ST. JOSEPH’SA.C.
The second day of the Leinster cross-country championships saw athletes from throughout the province head to Adamstown on Sunday where a tough, muddy course awaited them.
The day started with a non-championship race for Under-9 athletes, and St. Joseph’s were represented by Mia Barry, Aisleann Mullally and Kyle Bolger. All ran really well in the biggest race of their lives with Aisleann, in particular, having a great run to finish in eleventh position.
Huge fields in excess of 150 athletes were a feature of the Under-11 and Under-13 races. The boys’ Under-11 race over 1,500 metres saw St. Joseph’s claim an individual medal when Joss O’Connor, taking on the older athletes at Leinster level for the first time, finished in a fine twelfth position.
Next home for St. Joseph’s was James Cummins in 53rd position, followed by Conor Lanigan (109th), Ciarán Cummins (111th), and Niall Cummins (129th).
A fantastic turn-out of seven club athletes stood on the start line of the girls’ Under-11 race over 1,500 metres. Eabha Mullally finished powerfully in 37th place and seventh on the county team which won gold.
Lily Ryan, running out of age, crossed the line in an excellent 67th place and, with Eabha, qualified on the county team for the upcoming All-Irelands.
Keelin Byrne was next home in 107th, followed closely by Kadhla Croke (109th), Caoimhe Barry (110th), Lily Doyle (123rd), bravely finishing with an injured ankle, and Megan Doyle (129th).
In the Under-13 race over a tough 2,500 metres, Grace Glennon ran the race of her life to finish in a superb 15th position and was fourth scorer on the Kilkenny county team which finished second. Not far behind in a crowded finish was Maeve Bookle in an excellent 41st position, with both girls running out of age.
Maeve finished ninth on the Kilkenny county team and thus qualified with Grace to run the All-Irelands in a month’s time. Great battling performances from Áine Purcell and Rachel Foley saw them finish 64th and 103rd respectively, with the club team a creditable seventh.
Danielle Griffin and Jamie O’Connor kept the club flag flying at Under-15 level over a huge 3,500 metre distance. Both were rewarded for fine performances by qualifying for the All-Irelands on successful county teams. Danielle finished 23rd and Jamie was 48th in large fields of runners.
The previous Sunday saw many St. Joseph’s athletes head to Gowran for the county ‘B’ cross-country championships. Individual medals were won by James Cummins, Maeve Bookle, Jamie O’Connor and Katie Bookle. Also wearing the green and white singlet proudly were Kai Chan, Saorlait Mullally, Dervla Ryan, Mia Barry, Ciarán Cummins, Niall Cummins, Kyle Bolger, Barry Furlong, Caoimhe Barry and Eabha Mullally. Stephen O’Connor finished in ninth position in a hardfought county Novice men’s race.
Two weeks after the Dublin marathon, Anita Barry and Tom McDonald took on the Wicklow Hospice marathon in Avondale last weekend. Anita crossed the line in 3:57:30 with Tom not far behind in 4:10:00.