School reps. pass the test
Fine running on ideal day
THE SOUTH Leinster Schools cross-country took place last week on the grounds of Good Counsel College, New Ross. The event was organised by Presentation Secondary School Wexford with assistance from St. Joseph’s A.C. and United Striders A.C.
On a perfect day for running there were plenty of impressive individual performances on a course which, while flat, was still testing due to the surface cutting up and the tricky stride-breaking ‘s-bends’. Add in a few bumps and this would have been cross-country running European style.
From a Wexford perspective, there was plenty to cheer about, starting with Sinéad O’Reilly of Loreto Wexford, who lined up in the first race, the Minor girls’ 1,500m. Feeling a bit under the weather, she sensibly set off at a conservative pace and had enough in the tank in the latter stages for a bronze medal-winning sprint finish.
With her school-mates packing well - Eimear Halpin sixth, Caoilfhionn Ní Núalláin 15th - Loreto Wexford were top team.
Aoibhínn Mernagh (Presentation Wexford) ran a fine race to place seventh, while fellow Pres girl Ailbhe White was 13th.
With the top 15 automatically qualifying for the Leinsters next month, along with the top three teams, the girls can all look forward to another day on the country.
In the Minor boys the county’s top finisher was Jay Hogan, St. Mary’s C.B.S., Enniscorthy (tenth), with Darragh Breen (F.C.J. Bunclody) twelfth, Tadhg Hayes (C.B.S. Wexford) 14th, and Joe Mernagh (St. Peter’s Wexford) 15th. The St. Peter’s team were delighted to place third and win bronze medals.
Co. Wexford schools packed really well in the Junior girls’ race. Claragh Keane (Presentation Wexford) ran a controlled and well-paced race to place fifth. Expect her to build on this over the next month in preparation for the Leinsters.
Danielle Griffin (St. Mary’s, New Ross) was just behind her in sixth, with Elizabeth Gahan (Gorey Community School) in seventh.
Eimear Fortune of Loreto Wexford, in tenth place, was followed by three Presentation Wexford girls: Ciara Martin (eleventh), Ciara Dolan (twelfth) and Uisce Moroney (13th). Presentation Wexford took team silver.
Joe ‘Mudlark’ Byrne, competing in the colours of Gorey Community School, was a runaway winner of the Junior boys’ race.
Jack Dempsey (C.B.S. Wexford) placed a good ninth with Ben Wall (Good Counsel) in tenth and Ryan Boland (Creagh College, Gorey) in 13th. The St. Peter’s team won bronze.
The Intermediate girls’ 3,000m race saw a battle royal develop between Róisín O’Reilly (Loreto Wexford) and Hannah O’Keeffe (Loreto Kilkenny).
A lead group of four was whittled down to two on the second of two laps with Hannah leading out Róisín.
Midway through the lap the Wexford girl surged and opened a gap of 10-12 metres. O’Keeffe inched her way back and, sneaking up the inside, grand prix-style, on one of the final bends she opened a small gap on Róisín.
To her credit the Loreto Wexford girl responded and launched a last-ditch effort to haul her back in. Hannah, however, hung on to take the gold with Róisín settling for silver.
In third place was the experienced Áine Kirwan (Loreto Kilkenny). Eve Furlong (F.C.J. Bunclody) placed tenth and Haley McCormack (St. Mary’s, New Ross) was 14th.
The always dependable Adam O’Connor (C.B.S. New Ross) placed eighth in the Inter boys’ race with the ever-improving Conor Keane (C.B.S. Wexford) taking tenth spot. Cian Flanagan (Good Counsel) hung on to take the last of the top 15 qualification places.
St. Mary’s New Ross had two girls qualifying for the Leinsters in the Senior race, with Eva Roche in seventh and Katie Murphy 15th. The school took team bronze.
First Wexford boy home in the Senior race was the experienced Liam Turner (St. Peter’s Wexford). He ran most of the race, without company, in fifth spot and, while he looked like threatening for fourth spot with a lap to go, he stayed in that position to the end.
Liam had the pleasure of leading his team to the runner-up place on the podium behind the day’s overall top performing school, St. Kieran’s of Kilkenny. Well done to Sky Moroney (St. Peter’s) on his gutsy tenth place finish in the Senior race. CHAIRMAN PADDY Morgan presided over a well-attended A.G.M. of Athletics Wexford at The Athenaeum in Enniscorthy on Wednesday.
In reflecting on what has been another good year for Wexford athletics, Paddy mentioned the success of the county’s Senior athletes in track and field, both indoors and out.
He expressed his delight that the Co. Wexford men won Division 1 and, as a result, will compete this year in the Premier Division along with the county women’s team and Menapians.
He spoke of the success of Wexford’s Juvenile and Junior athletes on the national stage, with a small but strong contingent going on to perform, and medal, at the Celtic International Games.
Under-age athletes had great cross-country success in 2017 with individual medals at Leinster and national levels.
The Under-14 boys’ county team won silver medals at the nationals while the all-conquering United Striders Under-14 boys won club team gold.
Wexford’s Masters athletes had another good year in 2017, winning medals at the European Masters and at international cross-country level.
Noting that membership is on the up and up, currently standing at 1,916 - an increase of 61% in two years, the Chairman said that while this is to be welcomed it brings additional challenges when it comes to organising events.
The Chairman gave a commitment that he would prioritise the area of athlete development in the year ahead.
He thanked all clubs, officials and individuals who helped with events in the past year. He singled out Pádraig Kelly and Paul Gibbons for their help in processing and writing up results. Indeed Padraig, while not on the committee, has been selfless with his time at county, provincial and national levels.
In thanking his fellow officers, Paddy reserved a special word of gratitude for outgoing Secretary Linda Rogers. He was especially appreciative of the input of ViceChair John Moore over the past year who, despite having served his time as cross-country and road Secretary, continued to lead in this area.
The Chairman welcomed the news that Mr Oil had agreed to continue as the main sponsor of Athletics Wexford.
Outgoing Secretary, Linda Rogers, said she was happy to step down from the committee with a clean desk and the knowledge that AW is in such rude good health. She praised the Chairman’s leadership, diligence and enthusiasm since he stepped into the role.
She echoed his admiration for the effort and time given by John Moore over the past year in the absence of a new cross-country and road Secretary.
Expanding on this topic, she said that too few clubs are contributing personnel to the County Board. The Striders woman cautioned that if positions remained unfilled there was a possibility that it might impact on the events calendar.
Track and field Secretary Michelle Byrne expressed her great appreciation of the time and effort given by volunteers at events. In particular she praised those parents who, in volunteering at events, often missed seeing their own children competing.
The main change proposed under motions was one from the County Board in which it called for the abolishing of the positions of track and field Secretary and cross-country and road Secretary, and their replacement with Senior Competition Secretary and Juvenile Competition Secretary. This was passed unanimously.
A proposal to reduce to 3,000m the distance run by girls competing in Under-15 to Under-19 county cross-country championships was narrowly defeated. There were good cases made for and against the motion including: the shorter distance might attract a great number of participants and make for more competitive races (for); the distances at county level should not be less than those at provincial level (against).
The Chairman pointed out that the A.A.I. recommends that, for those aged 14 and 15, the maximum recommended distance is 3,000m.
A proposal from Bree to limit to five years the duration for which a person can hold an officer position on the County Board was defeated.
A motion from County Board that male and female Child Welfare Officers be appointed passed unanimously.
A proposal by United Striders that Under-19 athletes be permitted to compete in Novice and Intermediate, as they are already permitted to compete in Senior cross-country and road, is to be included in a motion presented by Wexford at National Congress.
With Nicky Cowman continuing as President, all outgoing officers standing again were elected unopposed - Paddy Morgan (Chair), John Moore (Vice-Chair), Emmett Malone (Treasurer), and Pat O’Leary and Nicky Cowman (Leinster reps.).
Anne Marie Forde took over from Linda Rogers as Secretary. With her former position of track and field Secretary now gone, Michelle Byrne became the first Juvenile Competition Secretary.
The position of Senior Competition Secretary had no takers. The Board hope to recruit someone to the position at its next meeting. Catherine Ronan continues as Child Welfare Officer.
Acting P.R.O. Senan O’Reilly was formally elected to the position. The athlete of the month committee was returned unopposed. Nicky Cowman, Michelle Byrne and William Spratt-Murphy were returned to the Development committee.