National Novice & Juvenile Uneven Ages XC 2023 (3rd Dec)
National title for Cillian Galvin
Among the highlights of the National Novice & Juvenile Uneven Ages Cross Country in Navan on Sunday 3rd December was victory for Cillian Galvin (u/13), third place for Lily Walsh (u/13), another two top twelve places, three medals won with Leinster teams, team bronze for the u/19 boys, and for another four of our teams, despite finishing out of the medal places, they were the leading Club in Leinster. Combining all the results over the day, our juveniles reinforced Mullingar’s strong reputation in juvenile cross country. Our adults too gave spirited performances and though they won no medals all were more than satisfied with their efforts in what are regarded as the most competitive races in national cross country.
In contrast to the mud-fest of Gowran two weeks before, because of the recent cold snap, the course in Navan was in very good condition and it only slowly deteriorated over the day as a slight thaw set in, but it still remained generally very good even if the corners were a bit tricky and everyone had to watch their footing in the soft ground. Very well done to Athletics Meath for leaving no stone unturned to put everything in place to make the whole day a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
We started the day with the u/11 boys 1,500m where Daniel Cummins got away well and stayed well up throughout. Rounding the final corner just outside the top twenty, Daniel put in a determined effort and with a great turn of pace he hauled himself into a terrific fifteenth place, just outside the individual medals. Also running a great race was Cillian McManus (Athlone AC) finishing just outside the top twenty and with support from Mel Bohan, Conor Gavin, Cian Gavin, Cillian Gavin, Aaron Robinson, Noah Morgan and Michael Kiernan the boys finished a very creditable 6th Club and 7th County, the first Leinster Club and first Leinster County to reinforce just how good these young boys are.
Lily Walsh attacked the u/13 girls 2,500m from the gun, always staying in contention throughout and with a brilliant finish was absolutely delighted with her 3rd place and an individual National medal. With support from Chloe Bell, Shaynah Mitchell, Lucy Kilmurray, Aoibhe Martyn and Liadan Gavin all running hard to the finish, the team finished 7th Club, the first Leinster team to finish, which was a terrific result. Lily also led the Leinster team to silver medals in the Inter-Provincial team competition, to add another medal to her take for the day. Another athlete running with purpose and focus was Cillian Galvin who never put a foot wrong in the u/13 boys 2,500m and when he made his move to the front pulled clear to win well and take the National title, repeating his victory in u/12 last year. The team was hit by illness but running well in support was Antonio Bertolo, Louis Kiernan and Aonghus O’Reilly to place 10th Club, the first Leinster team to finish, which was a great result for the boys.
Tianna O’Leary and Eleanor Kiernan led the Mullingar team home in the u/15 girls 3,500m and despite the very best efforts by Isabel Tynan Daly, Beibhinn O’Reilly and Blathnaid Peters the girls finished out of the team medals. Our team in the u/15 boys 3,500m was wiped out by illness and we could only field three runners but Conor Walsh, Daniel Horohoe and Morgan Isdell put in spirited performances anyway. Great credit must go to Daniel and Morgan who were stepping up an age to compete.
Ailbhe O’Farrell was our sole representative in the u/17 girls 4,500m where she out in a solid performance to finish well up in the very big entry of girls. On to the u/17 boys 4,500m where Matthew Molloy, Oisin Kehoe, Donagh Carey, Jamie Wallace and Luke Greene were not found wanting for effort, especially Jamie who had a heavy fall at the first corner which set him back and it took a lot of effort to regain his position. The team finished a very good 7th Club, the first Leinster Club to again show Mullingar in a very good light.
Grace Byrne was very happy with her strong showing in the u/19 girls 5,000m, finishing just outside the top twenty, missing a gold medal with the Leinster team by just one place. Hopes were high of finally breaking into the team medals in the u/19 boys 5,000m and the Mullingar team didn’t disappoint. Led home by Diarmuid Fagan in 11th followed by John Ryan on his heels in 12th to take individual National medals, and with brilliant support and team packing by Conor Sherwin, Ross Killalea, Pablo Lozano and Conleth Mullen the team finished 3rd Club and 4th County. John and Conor also added to their medal haul by winning bronze medals with the Leinster team.
With the conclusion of the juvenile programme, attention turned to the novice races, which with over 100 women and nearly 160 men, are justifiably regarded as the most competitive races in national cross country. Michelle Bohan led the Mullingar team home in the Novice Women 4,000m and despite the efforts of Aisling Corcoran, Ciara Dillon, Linda Cunningham and Aisling Farrell (making her cross country debut), the team placed out of the medals but were still more than happy with their efforts. We finished the day with the Novice Men 6,000m where James Keegan, Andy Boyhan, Ian McCormack, Alan Crowley, Tony Doran, Brian Martin and Gerard Gavin left nothing behind to place a very creditable 10th Club and an even better 7th County.
Well done to everyone that competed in Navan and special thanks to the parents and coaches that attended in number to cheer all our athletes on.
