The present was stolen by the cross nation this weekend, however Lindie Naughton brings you the total Irish round-up.
A shocking group victory by the boys’s U23 group proved the spotlight of the European Cross Nation Championships held at Abbotstown, simply to the west of Dublin on Sunday (December 12) .
Main the group dwelling in a preventing second place was UCD pupil Darragh McElhinney from Glengarriff in Co Cork. On the ultimate lap of the 8000m race, McElhinney had briefly led however he couldn’t fairly maintain off the problem of Britain’s Charles Hicks.
“Charlie made it laborious. I did my finest to stick with him,” stated McElhinney after the race. “Within the second lap I made the choice to take a seat again off him. Then within the second final lap, I stated to myself if I put it a tough lap in right here, it’s a medal assured, so I ended up closing the hole on him, and we knew it will come all the way down to a little bit of a kick. I’m proud of second, however the truth that the group pulled it out of the bag, I’m over the moon. I’m buzzing.”
McElhinney was backed up by Keelan Kilrehill of Moy Valley AC, sixth, and Michael Energy of West Waterford AC thirteenth, with Donal Devane of Ennis TC, Jamie Battle of Mullingar Harriers and Thomas Devaney of Castlebar AC making up the squad.
After that they had collected their medals, the delighted group winners did a a lot interrupted lap of honour across the course stopping continuously for congratulations and images.
Picture: Lindie Naughton
Laadjel exhibits maturity for U20s
On an excellent day for the host nation, the U20 males took group silver, led by Abdel Laadjel of Donore Harriers, one in all a variety of athletes who had returned from the USA for the event.
Laadjel ran a sensible race, catching his group mates Dean Casey of Ennis TC and 16-year-old Nick Griggs of Mid-Ulster AC on the ultimate lap. With Casey ending thirteenth and Griggs sixteenth, Eire misplaced out on gold by a single level to the British group. Making up the squad had been Scott Fagan of Metro St Brigid’s AC, Sean Fay of Clonliffe Harriers and Cathal O’Reilly of Kilkenny Metropolis Harriers.
Picture: Lindie Naughton
Of the ladies, Sarah Healy of UCD AC completed fifth within the U23 ladies’s race, having moved into second place at one level. With Danielle Donegan of UCD AC thirty first, and Aoife O Cuill of St Coca’s AC 32, backed up by Lauren Tinkler and Jodie McCann, each of Dublin Metropolis Harriers AC, and Ruth Heery of Waterford AC, the group completed fifth.
“It was difficult,” stated Healy, who at 20, nonetheless has two years left on this age class. “That hill down the underside takes it out of you each time, however it was such an excellent environment. I’m upset to not get a medal, however I simply had nothing left on the finish. Fifth place remains to be good.”
Better of the U20 ladies was Aoife McGreevy of UCD AC who completed twenty third. One place behind was Emma McEvoy of Dundrum South Dublin AC, who has solely taking over operating up to now yr. With nationwide champion Jane Buckley off Leevale AC thirtieth, the group completed eighth. Additionally operating had been Rebecca Rossiter of Loughview AC, Laura Mooney of Tullamore Harriers and Roise Roberts of North Belfast Harriers.
Picture: Lindie Naughton
Thrilling senior racing for all, however particularly Norway
Within the senior races, Fionnuala McCormack of Kilcoole AC pushed laborious from the beginning of the ladies’s 8000m, exhibiting no indicators of getting run a marathon private finest time solely per week earlier.
She completed ninth in a race received by Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal, who was making it a senior double for Norway.
Subsequent dwelling for the Irish was Eilish Flanagan of Finn Valley AC fifteenth, adopted by Aoibhe Richardson of Kilkenny Metropolis Harriers twenty third, Roisin Flanagan of Finn Valley AC twenty sixth, Aoife Cooke of Eagle AC thirty fifth and nationwide champion Michelle Finn of Leevale AC forty sixth. The group completed fourth.
“It was at all times going to be robust to be up on the entrance however that’s the place I needed to be, it was nice on the market” stated McCormack.
“The help was unbelievable. It’s superb to run a race the place you simply hear everybody roaring at you. When everyone seems to be shouting ‘Fionnuala’ at you, it’s good. In Dublin twelve years in the past, I had a extremely robust race. Right this moment was robust however it was higher.”
Picture: Lindie Naughton
Brian Fay of Raheny Shamrock AC, one other athlete who had returned from the USA to compete, ran a tactical race to complete tenth within the senior males’s 10,000m race behind the Olympic 1500m champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway.
Irish champion Hiko Tonosa, of Dundrum South Dublin AC, who led the Irish problem early on, completed thirteenth. He was adopted by Cormac Dalton of Mullingar Harriers twenty eighth; Dundrum South Dublin clubmates Emmett Jennings and Paul O’Donnell, forty fourth and 56th respectively, and Ryan Forsyth of Newcastle and District AC 58th. The group completed simply 4 factors behind Norway for fourth place.
“I used to be glad. I at all times felt like I had momentum, alhough on that final lap I used to be simply gassed, I used to be spent. However with everybody cheering you on, I’m like I can’t let the group – or the nation – down. So I gave it the whole lot,” stated Fay.
Blended relays nonetheless an exiting new format
Eire began properly within the blended 4 x 1500m relay, with Ciara Mageean of Metropolis of Lisburn AC handing over to UCD’s Luke McCann in first place.
McCann held on to that lead, however on the third leg, Britain’s speedy Alex Bell caught and handed Síofra Cléirigh-Buttner of Dundrum South Dublin AC. Regardless of his finest efforts, Andrew Coscoran of Star of the Sea AC couldn’t catch the ultimate leg runners for France and Belgium, who had been additionally forward of Eire at that stage. In an exhilarating chase for the road, the group completed a detailed fourth.
Whereas it didn’t match the 4 medal haul of Lisbon in 2019, it was an excellent day for the host nation. Let’s go away the ultimate phrase to Fionnuala McCormack, who was operating a file seventeenth time in a race she lovesd and has received it twice.“General the groups, the U23 lads earlier, the entire day, it was huge with the highest 5 and prime ten finishes. It was sensible.”
In the meantime elsewhere…
Elsewhere grass roots athletics continued with Stephen Connolly of Annadale Striders the winner of the boys’s race at the Irwin Speirs Memorial Cross-Nation, held at Cookstown on Saturday (December 11). Karen Alexander of Christian Runners UK AC received the ladies’s race.
On the roads, Seamus Fearon in 76 minutes 35 secs and Ciara Wilson in 83:28 had been the winners of the Ray D’Arcy Laura Lynn Half Marathon held within the Phoenix Park, Dublin, additionally on Saturday. Jamie Fallon and Ciara Forrester received the 6km race.
At the Cork BHAA Turkey Trot Handicap 3-Mile, in help of Cork Simon, Enda Kiernan, Sheila Stokes and Ned Ramsell who got here closest to their predicted time.