Four up for Clodagh
Double-double from Croghan athlete
THE COUNTY Intermediate cross-country championships were held in Lingstown, Tomhaggard, recently, with Kilmore A.C. playing host to the event.
The venue has been used numerous times for other cross-country events, but it was a slightly different lap that was utilised for the Intermediate this time, with a slightly shorter than normal loop seeing the ladies cover three laps for their four-kilometre distance, and the men running six laps for their eight-kilometre trek.
Although the severe rain that hit other parts of the county on the day held off in Lingstown, it was bitterly cold, with strong winds buffeting the athletes on various parts of the exposed-to-the Celtic Sea course.
Clodagh Kelly of Croghan achieved the rarely achieved double-double by adding this Intermediate title to the two Novice crowns and Intermediate road title she had already won in 2019 (the Novice road in Rathgarogue in the spring, the Intermediate road in Ballymurn also in the spring, and the Novice cross-country in JFK arboretum in the autumn).
Clodagh is in top form at the moment and adopted her by-now customary tactics of going out fast and soon stretching away from the field to come home in glorious isolation.
Nicola Murphy from United Striders has had an impressive debut season and was a clear second here, with her clubmate,
Sonya Byrne, finding a good turn of foot in the finishing straight to secure bronze from the challenging Alex Donohoe of Menapians.
Well done to the other ladies who togged out, and to United Striders for winning the team title.
Denis Whelan of Slaney Olympic ran out a clear winner of the Intermediate men’s race, setting a brisk pace from the start, his only pursuer being clubmate Dara Cloake.
Out on the final lap, Denis was maintaining a clear lead from the tiring Dara and, although the chasing pack were trying to muster a challenge, it was all too late.
Denis ran home strongly to the line to come home a well-deserved winner, thus improving on his third place finish at the Novice cross-country in New Ross in the autumn.
A good battle ensued for the places, with Paul Flanagan of D.M.P. and Alex Williams of Croghan coming home in the silver and bronze medal positions respectively.
Well done to Slaney Olympic for winning the men’s team title from United Striders of New Ross and Menapians.
The next championship event is the Masters cross-country (along with the Juvenile relays), which will take place on January 19, with the venue to be announced.