North Leinster Schools XC 2025 (29th Jan)

Postponed the previous week due to Storm Eowyn, the North Leinster Schools Cross Country took place in a very cold but dry Phoenix Park on Wednesday 29th January and by the end of the day, it was little surprise that a large number of Club members competing for their schools and colleges has qualified by virtue of individual placing or team results for the Leinster Schools finals on 12th February.

Antonio Bertolo (Colaiste Mhuire) raced to 2nd place in the Minor boys 1,600m, just ahead of Gareth Glennon (St. Finian’s College) in 3rd, to secure their places in the next round. Lily Walsh (Loreto Mullingar) made it look easy in the Junior girls 2,000m where she cruised to 2nd place. In the Junior boys 2,000m, among the Colaiste Mhuire team that placed 3rd was Oisin Clarke (5th) and Daniel Horohoe to secure their places in the next round.

Blathnaid Peters, Yves McCague and Emma Lagan (St. Finian’s College) contested the Intermediate girls 2,200m but were unlucky to finish out of the individual or team qualification places despite great efforts. In the Intermediate boys 3,800m the St. Finian’s team that came 3rd  included Oisin Kehoe (3rd), Txema Lozano, Daniel Glennon and Aaron Conroy. Unlucky though were Colaiste Mhuire’s Morgan Isdell, Cormac McGrath and Cian Hyland.

Red hot pre-race favourites in the Senior girls 2,200m, the Loreto College team didn’t disappoint and won easily, led home by Grace Byrne (2nd) and great team support from Jessica Cunningham (6th) and Shauna Callaghan. Colaiste Mhuire was also the hot pre-race favourite in the Senior boys 4,200m and with Jamie Wallace (1st), Conor Sherwin (2nd), Pablo Lozano (12th) and support from Conor Liston and Luke Greene, team gold was assured. The St. Finian’s College team was unlucky to finish 4th, missing team qualification, but individual top-15 places for Matthew Molloy (7th) and Donagh Carey (14th) sees them through to the Leinsters, but unfortunately won’t be joined by John Glennon [GD].