Leinster Schools Cross Country 2018 (21st Feb)

Conditions were very good for running on Wednesday 21st February in Santry Demesne for the Leinster Schools Cross Country Finals, where a number of Mullingar athletes were competing for their schools and colleges looking for qualification to the All-Ireland Schools Finals in Waterford IT in March. Amy Geoghegan (Mercy Kilbeggan) booked her place for Waterford with a 4th place finish in the minor girls 2,000m. In the minor boys 2,500m there was no beating Diarmuid Fagan (Colaiste Mhuire), delighted to win the Leinster title. Phoebe Bate (Loreto Mullingar) finished 7th in the Junior Girls 2,500m and with Meabh Killalea and Aoife O’Brien finishing strongly and packing well, the Loreto team finished 2nd team. Best of the Mullingar athletes in the Junior Boys 3,500m was Lorcan Mullen (Cistercian College Roscrea) with a fine 11th place finish to advance to the All-Ireland finals. Also running well and finishing strongly was Colin McGee (St. Joseph’s Rochfortbridge) and Matthew Glennon (St. Finian’s Mullingar).

Loreto placed 2nd team in the Intermediate Girls 3,500m thanks to Caoimhe O’Brien in 2nd place and great team support from Jennifer Fidgeon (10th) and Ciara Smith. Andrew Shaw (St. Finian’s Mullingar) booked his place in the All-Ireland finals with a 10th place finish in the Intermediate Boys 5,000m. Among the Colaiste Mhuire team that finished an excellent 2nd team was Club members Ruairi Fagan, Paul McCool and Kevin Martin. In the Senior Girls 2,500m Susan Glennon (St. Finian’s Mullingar), Andrea Brady (Loreto Mullingar) and Laura Shaw (Loreto Mullingar) ran well but won’t advance to the All-Ireland Finals. Leading the Colaiste Mhuire team to 1st team with a fine 2nd place individual finish in the Senior Boys 6,000m was Jamie Battle, followed by Ciaran Nolan (10th), Jack Moran (11th), John Whitelaw and Euan Lagan.