Byrne is best after epic run
Schools cross-country news
THE SOUTH Leinster schools cross-country were held in a mild and sunny Carlow town on Thursday.
The solid underfoot conditions at the Carlow Hurling Club grounds ensured that the running would be fast. This is always a very enjoyable day out on the athletics calendar, with some simply happy to have a day away from the classroom, while others have loftier ambitions.
This is where the thoroughbreds eye up the opposition to see who else has aspirations to Leinster and All-Ireland glory!
The programme opened with the Minor girls’ 1,600m race. Wexford’s top prospect, Sarah Phylan of Coláiste Bríde (Enniscorthy), has had something of an up and down start to her cross-country season, so it was a joy to behold her distinctive free-running style among the leaders.
While she may not have made it into top gear, she was ticking over sufficiently well to place a good fifth, the first of four Wexford athletes inside the top 15. Cara Kelly (Loreto) was tenth, Johanna Chapman (F.C.J. Bunclody) eleventh, and Freya Thompson (Presentation) 14th.
Race of the day was the Intermediate boys’ 4,000m in which Joe Byrne of Gorey Community School had an epic battle with talented Laois international Jack Fenlon.
It was nip and tuck throughout the long run in to the finish line, but one last late surge by Joe gave him the spoils.
Myles Hewlett (New Ross C.B.S.) finished very strongly to place fifth. Also getting into the top 15, and qualifying for the Leinsters, were the Good Counsel trio of Aidan Shannon (13), Ben Wall (14) and Robert Wall (15).
There was also some heroic running in the Inter girls’ 3,600m race. From the early stages, Claragh Keane (Presentation Wexford) and Elizabeth Gahan (Gorey C.S.) were part of a fast-running breakaway group of four, reduced to three by the last lap.
Claragh decided on a long run for home, no doubt in the hopes of cracking Elizabeth and her other pursuer, Ruby Stueven of St. Mary’s (Edenderry). However, Ruby had other plans and she bided her time before taking it out with a few hundred to go. She quickly built up a few seconds’ gap on Claragh, with Elizabeth the same distance behind her.
It looked at that point as if the positions had been decided. However, while Ruby stayed on to win, Elizabeth produced a stunning sprint finish to get her nose in front of Claragh and take the silver.
With two other Pres. Wexford girls making the top 15 - Uisce Moroney seventh and Ciara Dolan twelfth - the school took team silver, a mere two points behind winners Loreto (Kilkenny).
Clíodhna Kearney (Loreto Wexford) followed up her win in the Wexford schools cross-country with a solid third place finish in the Junior girls’ 1,800m. On this kind of form, she will be hoping to make the podium again at the Leinster championships.
Caoimhe Byrne of F.C.J. Bunclody placed eighth, Maeve Bookle (Our Lady of Lourdes New Ross) ninth, and Sophia Tkacheva (Gorey C.S.) 14th.
In the Junior boys’ 3,600m race, William Park of Ramsgrange Community School looked strong throughout. He was just behind the gold medal-winning Billy Coogan of Kilkenny C.B.S. at the finish.
Hard on his tail, in third place, was his United Striders clubmate Eoin Shannon, a student at Good Counsel (New Ross). Another Striders athlete, Seán Lennon (Kennedy College, New Ross), placed seventh in a sprint finish, while Macdara Kavanagh of St. Peter’s (Wexford) was 14th.
Laura Mooney (Scoil Críost Rí) grabbed the Senior girls’ race by the scruff of the neck from the start. Only two athletes were prepared to go with her early hot pace and they were both from Wexford Róisín O’Reilly (Loreto Wexford) and Corrine Kenny (Gorey C.S.).
On the first of the two 1,500m laps there was not much to separate them. Into the final lap, however, and Laura opened a 15m lead over Róisín, with Corrine falling off the pace.
With 250m to go it was make or break time for the Loreto (Wexford) girl. She went for something in between and, while reducing the margin, she was happy to settle for the silver. Corrine finished strongly to take the bronze.
Two St. Peter’s boys made the top 15 in the Senior race, with Cathal Dowd eleventh and Rónán Murphy 15th. Wexford C.B.S. took team bronze.
The Irish Life Health Leinster schools championships take place in Santry on February 12.
Fixtures: February 8, Irish Life Health national Intermediate, Masters, Juvenile ‘B’ and Juvenile relay championships, Avondale, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow; February 9, A.A.I. national indoor games, N.I.A., Abbotstown; February 11, N.I.A. Live - Juvenile and Senior indoor programme (5.309.30 p.m.), Abbotstown; February 12, Irish Life Health Leinster schools cross-country, Santry; February 12, A.I.T. indoor international grand prix, Athlone.