Leinster “B” XC & Mixed XC Relays 2024 (23rd Nov)
Fortunately, Storm Bert blew itself out overnight and didn’t affect the Leinster “B” Cross Country and Mixed Cross Country Relays held in Stradbally Hall, Co. Laois on Saturday 23rd November too much. While very strong winds overnight pulled down parts of the course, thanks to the early morning Trojan work by officials from Oughaval AC, the hosts for the event, repairs were completed in good time for the first race. The very heavy overnight rain had cleared by early morning in the Midlands but it left its impact on the course with soft underfoot conditions in some places, though it was the wind that came in for mention more by athletes rather than the soft ground, and while it was windy, the day was generally dry with only the occasional drizzle shower, so we definitely dodged a bullet and weren’t affected too much by the storm or its after effects.
The day started with the mixed relays, which were an “A” Championship event, so competition was fierce in every race. Mullingar fielded a team in the 4 x 250m u/11 Mixed Relay, where Kate Horohoe, Olly Wright, Laura Buckley and Noah Morgan gave it their all, finishing well up but out of the medal places. The Mullingar team in the 4 x 250m u/13 Mixed Relay was Liadan Gavin, Cillian Gavin, Mina Sheridan and Donnacha Doyle and with terrific determination and team effort they raced to an excellent fifth place finish in a very close race. All our relay runners used the relays as a warm-up for their later “B” cross country races, a testament to their fitness.
Moving to the “B” Championships, Kate Horohoe led the Mullingar team home in the u/11 girls 1,000m and despite great support and team effort by Heather Kelly, Lyla Lennon Currill, Laura Buckley and Madeleine O’Brien, the girls finished out of the team medal places but top marks for effort. With Olly Wright in 5th place and Noah Morgan in 10th place in the u/11 boys 1,000m backed up brilliantly by Emmet Walsh and Senan Clinton finishing well up, there was little surprise when it was announced that the Mullingar boys finished 1st Club to win the team gold medals.
Liadan Gavin, Aoife Dunne, Lily McDonald and Mina Sheridan contested the u/13 girls 1,500m where they finished strong and packed really well to finish a brilliant 4th Club, very unlucky to just miss winning Leinster medals. We hadn’t a team in the u/13 boys 1,500m but Cillian Gavin and Donnacha Doyle worked hard and produced great performances, finishing strong and fast in a very competitive race. The final race with a Mullingar interest was the u/15 girls 2,500m where Amelie R Kelly had a great race, sprinting hard up the finish straight to the line, crossing in 13th place, very unlucky to just miss an individual top-12 medal by the closest of margins. Muirin Dunne was close behind running very impressively, having stepped up an age.
Events like the Leinster “B” competitions are ideal opportunities for Club members who either don’t make teams in the “A” competitions, or are new to the sport, or are anxious or nervous about racing. We would like to see many more of our athletes take part in these events and we need the support of parents to bring the juvenile members to competitions. This is how athletes develop.
