Mounthawk and St Brendans win Shields at Crosscountry finals

THE Kerry Schools annual Post-Primary Schools Cross-country Championships took place at The Demesne, Killarney last Thursday, with 320 students representing 14 secondary schools from Kerry competing. The conditions were excellent for cross-country and the course was well prepared by Mike Horan and his team from Presentation Killarney.

Alyce O’Connor and Oisin Spillane showed great consistency, having also won their senior races in 2019.

The Morkham Shield for Best Girls School was won by Mercy Mounthawk, Tralee.

The Shield for Best Boys School was won by St. Brendan’s Killarney.

Good luck to those who will be taking part in North and South Munster competitions this Thursday in Pallaskenry, Co Limerick and Tramore Park, Cork respectively. The Munster Schools Cross-country final will be held on February 13 in Clarecastle.

INDIVIDUAL RACE WINNERS

GIRLS

Minor – Aoibhinn Gleeson, Killarney Community College

Junior – Cara Gannon, Mercy Mounthawk Intermediate – Shauna McCar thy, Killorglin Community College

Senior – Alyce O’Connor, Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine BOYS

Minor – Adam Quigley, Colaiste na Sceilge

Junior – Mikey Lynch, St. Brendan’s, Killarney Intermediate – Oisin O’Mhuiri, Gaelcholaiste Chiarrai Senior – Oisin Spillane, Mercy Mounthawk

ELSEWHERE, the AIT Indoor Arena in Athlone was the venue for the Irish Life Health National U-20 and U-23 Indoor Championships last Saturday.

There was gold for Ciara Kennelly (Killarney Valley) in the U-20 women’s high jump with a clearance of 1.65m and Luke O’Carroll (Tralee Harriers) in the U20 men’s long jump with a distance of 6.88m, more than 30cm ahead of second place.

Kirbyanne Ryan (Tralee Harriers) finished fourth in the U-20 women’s shot, a great result for her first year as a junior.

In the sprints Orla O’Reilly (U-23 women) and Cillian Griffin (U-20 men), both from Tralee Harriers, reached the final of their events in very stiff competition.

Meanwhile, David Kenny (Farranfore Maine Valley) was the winner of a 5km race walk in France. Completing the distance in an excellent time of 19:45, finishing ahead of Irish Olympic racewalker Brendan Boyce.