Fantastic run from Meegan

THE Dunleer AC contingent felt right at home in the Wee County on Sunday as they excelled in the Irish Life Health National Intermediate, Masters and Juvenile B Cross Country Championships at DkIT.

Dunleer had men’s and ladies’ teams out in full force as well as juvenile athletes and Peter Meegan (Under-17) and the Boys Under-11 team were the heroes of the day.

Meegan has been running very well this cross-country season and had already qualified for the upcoming Leinster Schools Championships, both as an individual and as part of his St Joseph’s CBS team.

That form continued on Sunday as he produced a fantastic effort to win the Boys Under-17 race.

Dunleer’s Boys Under-11 team were led home by Dáire Mathews in third place, closely followed by Conor Brennan who was also an individual top-12 medallist. The boys placed third in the team competition and were worthy recipients of National medals, with Daire and Conor followed home by Tom Meegan, Christian Farrell, Evan Costello, Max Lavery, Declan Mc Entee and Jack Greene.

Sally Sheridan and Lucy Sheridan both ran very well in the girls’ races, with Sally finishing in the top 12 to win a National medal at Under-13 level.

Rounding off a great day were the Dunleer AC senior and masters runners, with Nicola Welsh’s 12th place the top finish from a Dunleer perspective.

Dunleer AC officials were there among the Louth contingent, including Louth County chairman Micheál Mulligan, to make sure the course was set up properly and that the races were stewarded correctly. It is this attention to detail that the Dunleer AC officials bring to their own events also, namely the 4 Mile Road Race in Dunleer in the summer and the Rás na hÉireann International Cross-Country in February at Oldbridge, Drogheda.

The Rás na hÉireann is less than two weeks away now and thanks to title sponsor Kingspan and associate sponsors Mace Ireland, Glen Dimplex, Shay Sheridan, Paddy Darby, Cookstown Dairies, Burex Dunleer, Haughton & Young Ltd, Anord Mardx and Coca-Cola it is shaping up to be a day to remember for both athletes and spectators. Dunleer AC is grateful to the OPW for allowing the event to take place at the fantastic site of the historic Battle of the Boyne.

All roads will lead to Oldbridge on Sunday week for the Larry Mc Guill Kingspan Rás na hÉireann, as cross-country enthusiasts from all over the country will converge to battle for honours.

The addition of five US athletes will mean that the event has a truly international flavour and the hosts are looking forward to welcoming past winners for a special presentation, with the 1970 winner Michael Johnston Ireland’s five-time World silver medallist Catherina Mc Kiernan among the dignitaries.

Another significant date that week will be the Armagh International Road Race on Thursday February 14th.

Under-9 sprint winner Nathan Robertson pipped athletes from Ardee & District (left) and Cushinstown to take first place.

Zoe Mohan of Cushinstown AC (centre) is pictured after breaking the national indoor record for the Junior Women’s weight for distance with a throw of 5.92m at the recent National Indoor Junior and U-23 Championships in Athlone IT. Zoe’s clubmate Michael O’Sullivan came second in the U-23 shot put with a personal best throw of 11.21m.