Young athletes run strongly at a national gig

THERE were further examples of determined cross-country running from the next generation of Sligo athletics talent last Sunday. Sligo athletes performed admirably at the 123.ie National Novice and Juvenile (Uneven Ages) Cross Country Championships that took place at Navan racecourse, Co. Meath.

The best of the Sligo contingent in the Juvenile races was Sligo AC’s Grace Foley, who finished fourth overall in the Girls U-11 race (a distance of 1500 metres).

Foley was in the mix for a medal place right from the start and her Sligo AC team-mate Arwen Hunter was 14th from a field of 193. The Sligo AC pair helped Connacht achieve third place in the provincial standings. Furthermore, Sligo AC achieved seventh place in the Girls U-11 team section – also on the Sligo AC team were Saibh Prunty (147th), Sienne O’Sullivan (152nd) and Alexandra McDonald (170th).

In the Boys U-11 race, the best of the Sligo entrants was Matthew Coen, West Sligo AC, who was just outside the top 50 in 52nd place. Sligo AC were placed 11th in the team section but missed the input of Moss Deasy who RESULTS

123.IE NATIONAL NOVICE AND JUVENILE (UNEVEN AGES) CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Held at Navan racecourse, Co. Meath, on Sunday, December 3.

GIRLS U-11 (1500 METRES) was unavailable due to illness. Darragh Steels carried the flag for Sligo AC – and Sligo – in the Boys U-13 race. He was 15th overall after a strong run on the 2,500 metres route. Steels was the first Sligo runner home and also the fifth scorer for Connacht, who claimed gold in the provincial category in this age group. Steels’ result in the Boys U-13 race helped Sligo AC take 11th place in the team category.

Steels continued the form he showed when running at the 123.ie National Senior and Juvenile (Even Ages) Cross Country Championships at Gowran Demesne, Co. Kilkenny, last month – there he competed in the Boys U-12 race (2,000 metres) and was fourth. Francis Donoghue, South Sligo AC, finished 14th in the Boys U-17 race (4,500 metres).

Meanwhile, the novice men’s title went to Michael Murphy (Tullamore Harriers AC) and the novice women’s title was won by Lucy Holmes (West Waterford AC).

Murphy finished second in the novice men’s race but race winner Kevin McGrath, Bohermeen AC, was later ruled to have been ineligible and so the Tullamore competitor was promoted to first place.

The number of Sligo athletes to achieve a top 10 finish at last Sunday’s XC meet in Navan.