AAI National Intermediate & Masters XC 2022 (13th Feb)
(back) Linda Cunningham, Aisling Corcoran, Aine O’Reilly, Brigid McCabe, Michelle Bohan, Emer O’Hanlon
(front) Terri Greene, Caroline Mullen, Joanna Tyrrell, Sinead Whitelaw
Team honours at National Masters Cross Country
Looking to build on success in Leinster cross country, a strong team of master men and women from Mullingar Harriers travelled to Castlelyons, near Fermoy in Co. Cork where the AAI National Intermediate and Masters Cross Country was held on Sunday 13th February. First race on the card was the Master Women 4,000m, which included the Master Men o/65 years of age running alongside the women over the same 4,000m distance.
As she had done in Leinster in January, Aine O’Reilly led the Mullingar women home with a terrific 17th place overall finish of 141 finishers, placing a very creditable 6th place in her master category. Following in behind only a few places behind Aine and finishing very strongly was Michelle Bohan and Sinead Whitelaw, followed in by Aisling Corcoran, Caroline Mullen, Joanna Tyrrell, Linda Cunningham, Emer O’Hanlon, Terri Greene and Brigid McCabe, who finished just out of the medals in 4th place in her master category. Aine, Michelle, Sinead, Aisling and Linda combined to finish 4th Club but a brilliant third County to win well deserved All-Ireland medals in their master category. Caroline, Joanna, Emer, Terri and Brigid finished a very creditable 6th Club and 6th County in their master category.
We had no team in the Master Men o/65 years race but Sean McMullin and Nicky McCabe put in very strong and spirited efforts to finish well up in the field of 43 master men athletes, with Sean placing second in his master category and Nicky seventh in his category, excellent performances in a National final.
We finished the day with the largest race on the programme, the Master Men 7,000m and it was quite a magnificent sight to see 211 men charge from the start, among them Gerard Gavin. Keeping well up with the action, Gerard ran a very fine race and even though finished out of the medal places, has to be very pleased with a 42nd place overall and a very creditable 7th in his master category against the very best master cross country men in Ireland.
