Christmas comes early for Erinn at Nationals

CHRISTMAS came early for Dunleer AC at Sunday’s Irish Life Health National Novice and Uneven-Age Cross-Country Championships in Dundalk IT as their promising young athlete Erinn Leavy stormed home to victory.

With on average 150 to 160 athletes in each age group - Under-11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 - the mid Louth club couldn’t have dreamed of a better start as Erinn came up trumps in the Girls Under-11 1500m.

She showed great maturity in biding her time, tracking the race leader and eventually powering home to a remarkable victory ahead of Bandon AC athlete Amy Mc Carthy and bronze medallist Aoibheann Fitzpatrick of Ballinasloe AC.

Erinn is now the current Louth, Leinster and National champion and coaches Kevin Matthews and Fintan Reilly were quick to congratulate her, with Kevin remarking that it was an early Christmas present for the club.

There was further joy for Dunleer AC when Tiernán Rowley led his dedicated teammates to bronze in the Boys Under-13 2,500m. Tiernán is an amazingly determined young athlete who showed his mettle on Sunday, battling hard every step of the way and running his socks and spikes off to finish in the top 12, winning himself an individual medal.

This was a very competitive age group, but with able backing from James Russell, Patrick Farrell and Blake Kennedy the hard-working quartet scooped team bronze.

In the penultimate race of the day, the National Novice Ladies 4k, Karen Costello led her Dunleer AC team home. Karen was 12th home in a field of 140 athletes with a time of 15:17 to cap off a fantastic season which included Louth titles and Leinster and National top-12 placings. Nicola Welsh continued her comeback to form after injury with 34th place and a time of 15:58.

On a great day for Dunleer AC the club support was magnificent, with the senior and masters athletes officiating to ensure a great day of cross-country running for everyone.

Congratulations also go to all the Dunleer athletes who competed, namely Lucy Sheridan, Erinn Leavy, Ciarán Russell, Tiernán Rowley, James Russell, Patrick Farrell, Blake Kennedy, Diarmuid Mc Keown, Jack Boylan, Karen Costello, Nicola Welsh, Jacqueline Matthews and Sandra Doheny. •Training will recommence in January as the Dunleer AC athletes prepare for the Rás na hÉireann on February 5th and for the indoor season.