Sligo AC athletes impressive at the Abbotstown Cross Country Nationals
SLIGO AC’s athletes from a wide range of age groups were showcasing their talent at the weekend National Cross Country competition.
The National Senior Junior and Even Age Cross Country took place on a newly designed course in the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown on Sunday.
The Senior and Junior races were trials for the European Cross Country in Italy in a fortnight’s time, while the underage included up to 150 of the best underage runners in the country in each event over a testing course. Sligo AC Athletes had qualified through the Connacht Championships and while there were no podium finishes, all the athletes gave it their best efforts and were rewarded with top forty positions.
First up were the boys under 12 team of Finn and Joe , Campbell Hughie, Matthew Percy, Donnacha O’Brien and John Corcoran with Ross Doherty and Joe Campbell the top finishers.
Ailbhe Morgan was the girls’ U16 representative and ran her usual solid race. Michael Morgan and Daragh Williams were the first club athletes in the boys U16 and were supported by Jack Connor, Cathal Corcoran, Eoin Carty and Sam McDermott.
Aoife Morris competed in the U18 Girls and was followed home by Eimear Joyce and Tara Carty while Leo Doherty and Conor Melvin were closely attended by Finley Daley in the ultra competitive U18 and under 20 combined race while Dultagh Somers completed the team.
Marie Johnston was the sole competitor in the Senior Ladies with Emmot Dunleavy in 25th leading home teammates JP Carty ( 5th), Seamus Somers ( top 70) Rory Connor ( top 100) and Bill Carty in the Senior Men in what was a productive day from the young and older athletes alike.