Kenmare’s Shauna DoellkenO’Shea takes silver at National Cross-Country Championships
THIS year’s Irish Life Health National Novice and Juvenile Uneven Ages Cross-Country Championships took place in the WIT Sports Arena, Waterford last Sunday. With some of Ireland’s top young athletes in competition it was the perfect final Irish Life Health championship of 2017.
It was two of Kenmare AC’s rising stars who flew the flag for Kerry. In the U-19 women’s race Shauna Doellken-O’Shea proved that she was more than worthy of her recent selection to the Irish Celtic Cross-Country team when she finished in second place just behind Niamh Carey (Dundrum South Dublin AC) and with Caron Ryan (Craughwell AC) in third.
Alyce O’Connor, running in the U-17 women’s race, was very unlucky not to pick up an individual medal, finishing in 13th place overall after a thrilling sprint finish. She was part of the Munster team that won gold provincial medals. Conor O’Mahony (An Riocht) was competing in the Novice Men’s race, where he finished in 31st place.
The holiday period sees two popular road races return to the roads of Kerry. On St Stephen’s Day Farranfore/Maine Valley AC will host their annual 5km road race / fun run. Now in its 56th year, the race starts at 12 noon with registration from 10:45am in Farranfore Sports Hall. Prizes will be awarded for the first six male and female runners along with all category prizes.
On New Year’s Day Star of the Laune will hold its 30th annual Charles O’Shea race in Beaufort with 5km and 10km distances to choose from this year. The event starts at 12 noon with plenty of prizes on offer. The Goal Mile will be run on Christmas Day at venues throughout Kerry, check local clubs for details.
Kerry Athletics wish all our members and supporters a very merry Christmas and a happy new year, and we look forward to seeing you all back on the sporting field in 2018.