UNITEDSTRIDERSA.C.
The Striders had over 30 Juveniles in action in Navan on bank holiday Saturday at the Leinster-cross country championships for even age groups.
With some fields larger than 200 of the best provincial athletes, competition was very strong. However, we are very lucky to have a great bunch of under-age athletes and it was no surprise that they performed so well at this level.
First up, in the Under-10 event, was Heather Costello, who got the day off to a great start, finishing well inside the top half of the field over a tough 1k course.
Over 2k, the Under-12 boys’ team performed really well, earning eighth place in the club team event and helping Wexford to fifth place in the county team event. Ronan Shannon was first Strider over the line ahead of Seán Lennon, Tomasso Hickey, Sam Myers and Olan Delaney, with all boys putting in big efforts.
With the distance up to a testing 3k, Ciara Murphy and Kelly Corbett were part of a Wexford squad that placed seventh. The Under-14 boys’ Striders team created a slice of club history, recording individual first and second places in a Leinster cross-country event for the first time.
The eight-strong Striders squad all performed heroically to win both the club title and help Wexford to the county title. Aidan Shannon was the star man for the Striders, taking another Leinster gold, ahead of Myles Hewlett, winning silver, out of his age group, with Darragh Flannelly a handful of seconds back in seventh place.
The three boys sat back in the chasing pack for the first part of the race and all moved into contention with a kilometre or so to go. Aidan powered up the hill to win gold in great style, ahead of Myles who made up considerable ground to take second place in the final strides.
With Darragh finishing strongly to claim his individual medal, Cosmo Hewlett powered home to secure the fourth spot that won the Striders a Leinster club title. Eoin Shannon, Finn Kelly, Owen Lennon and Caolan Costello made up the golden squad, with all performing remarkably well.
The Under-16 girls’ team did a fantastic job of following the golden boys, to take fifth place in the club event. Despite being out of age, Erinn Shannon was first Strider home ahead of Clodagh Foran, Eve Byrne, Aisling Power and Ellie Quinn.
Adam O’Connor, running a year out of age, was first Wexford athlete home in the Under-16 boys’ event. Striders Aaron Browne and Ryan Kielthy ran very well to be part of the Wexford team which finished sixth in the county event.
The final under-age races of the day led to more medals for the Striders. The Under-18 girls’ squad of Grace Costello, Rebecca Bawden, Gráinne Flannelly, Alannah Byrne and Joanne Kelly won a bronze in the club event.
In the Under-18 boys’ race over 6k, Aedan Rogers won his individual medal with a top ten finish, ahead of James Boland who registered another really good finish.
Later in the afternoon, Alan O’Connor led the Striders men’s team to a fantastic fifth place in the Leinster Novice cross-country team event. Over the 6k undulating course, the Striders all performed well, with Alan’s top 20 place being the stand-out performance. John McGrath, George Delaney and Ted Flannelly completed the team.
To complete a very busy and successful weekend, on the Sunday the Striders had over 20 competing at the Dublin City Marathon.
In a great atmosphere all Striders completed the course, achieving lots of P.B’s along the way, including first clubman home, Paul Doran, in a remarkable time of two hours 44 minutes on his debut marathon. Well done to all.