Fiona the first Over-35 home
International reward likely
THE AUTUMN open international cross-country meeting returned to the national cross-country course in Abbotstown once again this year, for what is always an exciting day of competition.
With qualification on the line for the British and Irish Masters international cross-country in Aintree in November, the stakes were extremely high. Several of Wexford’s top Masters athletes travelled to Dublin, hoping to make the team.
The women’s 6,000m race opened the programme. The race incorporated the Senior women’s race, along with the Junior (Under-20) race and all the Masters categories.
Fiona Kehoe was in action in the Over-35 category. Having made the team last year, fellow competitors knew that Fiona would be extremely tough to beat.
The Kilmore athlete has been in fine form recently, running 17.06 minutes for 5k on the road in Rathfarnham which was a P.B., and only the previous week winning the Mr Oil county Senior cross-country title emphatically in Coolgreany.
Ciara Wilson, international duathlete of D.M.P., was in action in the Senior category.
Ciara ran some hugely impressive times in the summer, including 16.49 minutes for 5k and 36.00 minutes for 10k at the VHI women’s mini-marathon.
Fiona started very well and looked strong throughout the race. She had good company in the form of regular track rivals Amy O’Donoghue (Emerald), Maisy O’Sullivan (St. Abban’s) and Rachel Gibson (North Down).
In the latter stages of the race, Gibson began to gradually gain ground on Fiona, but the Wexford athlete still had too much for her.
Fiona finished 14th overall and as first Over-35, in a time of 22.18 minutes, booking her spot on the
Irish team for the third successive year. This is subject to receiving the confirmation letter from the Irish Masters Athletics Association.
Ciara Wilson battled hard throughout the race, finishing 50th overall in a time of 24.15 minutes. This put Ciara 27th in her category.
It should be noted that Jackie Carthy of Kilmore had intended competing in the Over-45 category, where she would have been one of the strong favourites to make the team.
Jackie won silver in the Mr Oil county Senior cross-country championships the previous week. Unfortunately, due to illness, Jackie was unable to run.
She has applied to be selected as a wildcard on the Irish team, and we sincerely hope an athlete of her calibre is chosen. Her time to win the category last year was 45 seconds faster than the winning time this year, so Jackie has reason to be optimistic.
The men’s race was next up with four Wexford athletes taking on the 7.5km course: Niall Sheil of St. Killian’s, and John McGrath, Brendan Lyng and George Delaney of United Striders.
Sheil was part of the Irish team last year in Swansea. Niall, who is coached by Pavel Koleshnikov, is in solid form at the moment, following a second place finish in the county Senior cross-country championships after a superb final lap to beat Enda Cloake.
The United Striders lads were probably still on a high heading into the race, following their club’s first victory in the Senior men’s team competition for 35 years. John McGrath was a member of the Irish team in Swansea last year.
Niall Sheil was running in the Over-40 category, which was won by a well-known name, Brian Maher of Kilkenny City Harriers.
Niall had a very strong race, finishing sixth in the category in a time of 26.11 minutes. Niall will now face the agonising wait as he awaits to see if he has been selected. That will be confirmed later this week.
The men’s teams are six to score and one substitute. However, there may be some applicants for wildcard places.
The United Striders crew were all running in the Over-45 category. Brendan Lyng crossed the line to finish tenth in the category, in a time of 27.31 minutes.
John McGrath was only a fraction behind, finishing eleventh, clocking 27.33 minutes for the 7.5k race.
George Delaney finished 16th, running 28.40 minutes. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that these athletes will be selected but no doubt they will be back, hungrier than ever next year.
The Leinster Juvenile even ages and Novice cross-country championships take place in Gowran, Co. Kilkenny, this Saturday, October 26.
A number of Wexford athletes and county teams will stand a strong chance of making it to the nationals in late November (Juvenile even ages)/mid-December (Novice).
Good luck to all competing and wearing the purple and gold singlets.
The 40th running of the Dublin City Marathon takes place next Sunday, October 27. This year 22,500 runners will descend on the capital for the race, which will be live streamed on the Dublin City Marathon YouTube channels from 9 .a.m through to mid-afternoon.
This race serves as the national marathon championships also. Good luck to all Wexford athletes taking on the 26.2 miles.
We hope that you enjoy this great race!