European Cross Country Championships 2019 (8th Dec)

Jamie Battle, Claire Fagan, Jack O’Leary, Cormac Dalton

Mullingar athletes help Irish eyes to smile at European Cross Country

Not having won a medal since 2015, Ireland made amends with its most successful European Cross Country Championships on Sunday 8th December by winning two individual medals and two team medals to place fourth out of 21 countries on the medal table, behind Great Britain, France and Italy, to build a great base for 2020 when Dublin will host the event. Witnesses to this memorable day were four of Mullingar’s star athletes – Jamie Battle, Claire Fagan, Jack O’Leary and Cormac Dalton – who all made a valuable contribution. The course in the Bela Vista Park, Lisbon was dry and firm but in a change to recent years, it was also very technical, with some tight bends and tough uphill and fast downhill sections, making it extremely challenging.

Jamie Battle was part of a very strong team in the u/20 men 6,000m where he put in a great performance, maintaining his place just outside the top twenty throughout to finish strongly in 28th, the fifth finisher for the team that finished in an agonising 4th place, on the same points as third place and only missing the bronze medals on count back. There was still reason for Irish cheer though as Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers AC) took bronze for Ireland on his International debut. Mullingar had two to cheer for in the u/23 men 8,000m where Jack O’Leary looked to build on his experience from last year, which he achieved in spades with a fine run to finish 25th, the second score for Ireland. Cormac Dalton made his debut in a Major Championship, negotiating the tough course with his customary determination to finish in an excellent 49th, the fourth finisher for Ireland and the team placed a very creditable 7th. Claire Fagan can be very satisfied with her run in the u/23 women 6,000m to finish in 47th, the fifth finisher for Ireland where Ireland took individual bronze courtesy of Stephanie Cotter (West Muskerry AC) to lead the Irish team to second place and the silver medals, to earn Claire a fantastic team silver medal in her first time competing at a European Cross Country.

Very well done to Jamie, Jack, Cormac and Claire on their performances in the Irish colours, helping to make Irish eyes smile, which will surely spur them on to ensure they qualify for the event in 2020 on Irish soil.