North Sligo masters team take second in Waterford
THE North Sligo masters mens team made the long journey to Waterford last weekend to run in the national masters crosscountry at the magnificent facilities at the IT Waterford.
The masters competition for men was over 7k and the womens over 4k, it was run on a course which was tough but fair with long drag uphills, flat sections and downhills, conditions were very cold but dry.
The masters competitions nationally are the most competitive and difficult to win medals in, there are almost three times as many athletes in the over 35 categories as there are in the 20 to 35 category competing, and it is where the competition is at right now in Ireland.
The North Sligo mens team were boosted by their exploits in the National Intermediate crosscountry in Tuam three weeks ago when they won the first ever senior mens national team medals in crosscountry for the club when winning the bronze medals.
Craig Brennan and Tommy Kelly had superb runs, coming from the mid thirties early in the race they ground there way through the field picking off runners working hard as they dug deep into their reserves to finish 16th for Brennan and 17th for Kelly, Craig Brennan won his first national individual medal when he finished 2nd in his over 40 category a just reward for this very determined athlete.
Eamon McAndrew put in another stellar performance fighting fatigue from his huge efforts early in the race he showed true grit and great determination by finishing 22nd in this top quality field.
McAndrew had the great satisfaction of claiming his second national individual medal when he won bronze in his over 40 category having won an individual silver medal in the half marathon last August.
Conor McCann put in his best ever performance in cross- country when he ran a very good tactical race, coming from the mid forties going into the last lap he dug deep to pass several runners to finish a great 38th and secure the silver medals for the team with 93 points.
It was McCann’s huge effort in the last lap that secured the silver medals as East Cork finished with 93 points also but their 4th scorer finished 44th and its the 4th scorer that determines the destination of the medals in the event of a tie. Raheny won the gold medals with 72 points North Sligo silver with 93 points and East Cork bronze with 93 points also.
This team now have won team medals in the last four national championships they have contested, gold medals in the national half marathon, bronze in the national marathon, bronze in the national intermediate cross- country and silver in the national masters.