Week ending Saturday 15th October
Westmeath Cross Country concludes
Day two of the Athletics Westmeath Cross Country Championships took place in Belvedere last Sunday morning with competition for girls and boys under 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 years and for novice, senior and master women and men. The forecast was for heavy rain but thankfully it held off for the early races for the youngest ages and it only really began to pour rain for the later races for the older juveniles and adults. No one likes getting wet, but older athletes are more used to it from training and not easily put off by it. Belvedere proved itself yet again as an excellent cross country venue and despite the rain, underfoot conditions held up and were very good for running. Entries for all races were good, especially in the adult races where there were teams from Athlone, Coralstown-Kinnegad and Mullingar. We were also delighted to see some guest runners from Longford AC and Trim AC, looking to get in some valuable competition before the Regional cross country championships.
There were a good number of newcomers that had run in the Westmeath Schools Cross Country and if not members of a Club they’re strongly encouraged to join their nearest Club. The boys and girls that ran in the non-Championship under 9 race really enjoyed themselves and were delighted with their medals, one for everyone that finished. Moving to the Championships proper, the race distances were longer than in the Westmeath Schools but that was no problem for those that have been training regularly. The course in Belvedere is a great test of cross country endurance and those that train there regularly will have no problem with any course in Leinster. There were some very good individual performances but Championship cross country is also about team running, so everyone was being closely watched by Club coaches, particularly the newcomers.
Many of the juveniles who took part on day one the previous week were back in action again either running in their own age or moving up an age group to get in some race experience. As on day one, the competitors on day two came from all across the County and included a number of welcome newcomers, with everyone keen to perform well. All the underage races were keenly contested and the last race of the day was a combined race for girls and boys under 17 and under 19 years, and for Novice, Senior and Master women and men. All the women ran 4,000m, the older master men also ran 4,000m, the senior men ran 8,000m and the rest of the men ran 6,000m, everyone starting together and running over the same course but with different numbers of laps, and with over sixty runners racing out from the start, it was a great spectacle to watch as the large field snaked its way around the rolling hills of Belvedere.
Thanks to all who helped recording the results and stewarding on the course, to the many parents who came and supported the competitors, and to the management and staff of Belvedere for the use of the excellent grounds, but especially to the athletes who provided great competition.
The results of day two are:
Under 9 girls 500m – 1. Muireann Feery, 2. Hazel McDermott, 3. Helen McGrath, 4. Katie Smith (Longford AC – guest runner), 5. Lucy O’Connor, 6. Emily Coyne, 7. Roisin Keane, 8. Maisie Walsh, 9. Laura Buckley, 10. Rose Harte, 11. Rachel Robinson, 12. Roisin Ruane, 13. Heather Kelly, 14. Elsie Hegarty, 15. Ciara O’Carolan, 16. Rosie O’Brien, 17. Evie Boyhan, 18. Aoife Gavigan, 19. Keelagh Smith, 20. Ella McDonald, 21. Eimear Kenny, 22. Sophie Orwell, 23. Emma Orwell. Under 9 boys 500m – 1. Mel Bohan, 2. Oisin Quinn, 3. Jack Wright, 4. Dean Mulleady, 5. Senan Clinton, 6. Oisin Kenny, 7. Noah Morgan, 8. Cillian Hannon, 9. John Geelon, 10. Senan Seery, 11. Jason Ruane, 12. Rory McDonnell, 13. Alex McDonnell, 14. Jack Tyrrell, 15. Conor McDonnell, 16. Josh Boyhan, 17. Tim Casey, 18. Bradley Duffy, 19. Conor Gamble, 20. Hugo Glynn, 21. Huw Keaveney. Under 11 girls 1,500m – 1. Chloe Bell (MHAC), Jessica Neary (Longford AC – guest runner), 2. Penny Bohan (MHAC), 3. Katie Brady (Coole), 4. Clodagh Keane (MHAC), 5. Shaynah Mitchell (MHAC), Zoe Mangan (Longford AC – guest runner), 6. Amelie Kelly (MHAC), Julie Taitt (Longford AC – guest runner), 7. Liadan Gavin (MHAC), 8. Eabha Gilhooly (Athlone AC), 9. Katie Bohan (MHAC), 10. Aoife Gouldsbury (MHAC), 11. Maria Gouldsbury (MHAC), 12. Meabh Kelly (Athlone AC), 13. Aoibheann Quinn (Athlone AC), 14. Lily McDonald (MHAC), 15. Kate O’Donoghue (Gainstown), 16. Emily McDonald (Gainstown), 17. Alice Hyland (MHAC), 18. Mary Casey (Castledaly), 19. Hannah O’Brien (MHAC), 20. Niamh Hewson (Castledaly), 21. Isabel Smith, 22. Alannah Reihill (MHAC), 23. Saoirse Peters (MHAC). Under 11 boys 1,500m – 1. Harry Flanagan (MHAC), 2 Gareth Glennon (MHAC), 3. Conor Gavin (MHAC), 4. Myles Thornton Sleator (MHAC), Adam Mulleady (Longford AC – guest runner), 5. Cillian Gavin (MHAC), 6. Alex Sochanski (MHAC), 7. Adam O’Donoghue (MHAC), 8. Jamie Costello (Athlone AC), 9. Fiacra O’Farrell (Delvin), 10. Cillian Martyn (MHAC), 11. Seamus Clarke (MHAC), 12. Cillian Coughlan (Athlone AC), 13. Donnacha Doyle (MHAC), 14. Aaron Robinson (Rochfortbridge), 15. Emmet Devine (MHAC), 16. Nathan McGee, 17. Conor Madden (MHAC), 18. Rian Gavin (MHAC), 19. Cormac Tully, 20. Paul Donlon (MHAC), 21. Peter Fitzpatrick (MHAC). Under 13 girls 2,500m – Sophia Carey (Longford AC – guest runner), 1. Lily Walsh (MHAC), Alisha Manning (Longford AC – guest runner), 2. Aobh Smith (MHAC), 3. Lucy Kilmurray (MHAC), 4. Beibhinn O’Reilly (MHAC), 5. Lisa O’Brien (MHAC), Sarah Taitt (Longford AC – guest runner), 6. Chloe Duggan (MHAC), 7. Emily Tully (MHAC), 8. Lila Dalton (Kinnegad), 9. Muireann Kelly (Athlone AC), Abbie Mulligan (Longford AC – guest runner), 10. Lucy Mulvany (MHAC), 11. Aoibhinn Smyth (MHAC), 12. Alanna Galligan (Castlepollard), 13. Mia Brennan (MHAC), 14. Molly Thornton Sleator (MHAC). Under 13 boys 2,500m – 1. Scott Cogan (MHAC), 2. Cillian Galvin (MHAC), 3. Jack Brady (Castlepollard), 4. Louis Kiernan (MHAC), 5. Zack O’Leary (MHAC), 6. Cormac McGrath (MHAC), 7. Oisin Clarke (MHAC), 8. Aonghus O’Reilly (MHAC), 9. Derek Forbes (MHAC). Under 15 girls 3,500m – 1. Tianna O’Leary (MHAC), 2. Eleanor Kiernan (MHAC), Rachel Keenan (Longford AC – guest runner), 3. Blathnaid Peters (MHAC), 4. Emma Lagan (MHAC), 5. Lydia McDonnell (MHAC), 6. Muireann Reihill (MHAC), 7. Sadhbh Carey (MHAC), 8. Siofra O’Reilly (MHAC), 9. Mia Farrell (MHAC). Under 15 boys 3,500m – 1. Matthew Molloy (MHAC), 2. Luke Greene (MHAC), 3. Niall Brady (MHAC), 4. Conor Walsh (MHAC), 5. Conor Geoghegan (MHAC), 6. Daniel Glennon (MHAC), 7. Adam Maxwell (Collinstown), 8. Alex Sheridan (MHAC), 9. Conor Mulvany (MHAC), 10. Cian Hyland (MHAC). Under 17 girls 4,000m – 1. Caoimhe Kilmurray (MHAC), 2. Ailbhe O’Farrell (MHAC), 3. Grace Byrne (MHAC), 4. Caoimhe Donohue (MHAC), 5. Ella Brady. Under 17 boys 6,000m – 1. Conor Sherwin (MHAC), 2. Conor Liston (MHAC), 3. Jorge Martin (MHAC), 4. John Glennon (MHAC). Under 19 girls 4,000m – 1. Aine Gilhooly (Athlone AC), 2. Aisling Lane (MHAC). Under 19 boys 6,000m – 1. Andrew Glennon (MHAC), 2. Conleth Mullen (MHAC). Senior Women 4,000m – 1. Jenny Algar (MHAC), 2. Susan Glennon (MHAC), 3. Michelle Bohan (MHAC), 4. Linda Cunningham (MHAC). Novice Women 4,000m – 1. Meabh Killalea (MHAC), 2. Laura Geoghegan (MHAC), 3. Aeilish McGovern (MHAC), 4. Marie Louise Johnston (MHAC), 5. Orla McLaughlin (MHAC), 6. Catriona Kennedy (MHAC). Master Women 4,000m – (o/35) Edel Gaffney (Trim AC – guest runner), Fiona Gettings (Longford AC – guest runner), 1. Aine O’Reilly (MHAC), 2. Monika De Almeida (Athlone AC). Master Women 4,000m – (o/50) 1. Anna Marie O’Dowd (Athlone AC), 2. Emer O’Hanlon (MHAC), 3. Caroline Mullen (MHAC), 4. Joanna Tyrrell (MHAC), 5. Patricia Broderick (MHAC), 6. Vera McCool (MHAC). Master Women 4,000m – (o/65) 1. Brigid McCabe (MHAC). Master Men 4,000m – (o/65) 1. Charlie Lawn (Athlone AC), 2. Sean McMullin (MHAC), 3. Pat Boyhan (MHAC). Senior Men 8,000m – 1. Vinny Connolly (MHAC), 2. Euan Lagan (MHAC), 3. Andrew Nevin (MHAC), 4. John Whitelaw (MHAC), 5. Ian McCormack (MHAC), 6. Paddy Shaw (MHAC). Novice Men 6,000m – 1. Enda O’Carolan (MHAC), 2. Gerard Glennon, 3. Kevin Nolan, 4. Stephen Olwell (MHAC), 5. Shaun Mill. Master Men 6,000m – (o/35) Pavel Maczka (Guest runner), 1. Evan McCormack (MHAC), 2. Eanna Kavanagh (Athlone AC), 3. David Cuddy (Athlone AC), 4. Ciaran McManus (Athlone AC), 5. Enda Seery (MHAC), 6. Kieran Shine (Athlone AC), 7. Patrick Muldoon (MHAC), 8. Philip Burke (MHAC), 9. Kevin O’Brien (MHAC). Master Men 6,000m – (o/50) 1. James Carton (MHAC), 2. Tom McGrath (MHAC), 3. Matt Glennon (CKAC), 4. David Fagan (MHAC), Padraig Daly (Guest runner), 5. Jim Whelan (CKAC), 6. Paul Ginnell (MHAC), 7. Mel Carty (CKAC), 8. John Bannon (MHAC), 9. Aidan O’Donoghue (MHAC), 10. Paul McCool (MHAC).
Selection for juvenile Club and County teams for the Leinster Championships will be based on the results from both days and on application in training. A few juveniles unavoidably missed one day or the other, or were ill, but they can still be considered for team selection if officials are happy that they are fit and able to train. The Club has a great reputation in underage cross country running, due in no small part to athletes running in their own age group but also moving up an age group to make up Club and County teams. Therefore, in line with this long-time practice and what is effectively Club policy we expect everyone selected on teams to compete.
Fit4Life continues
The new 10-week Fit4Life programme at the Club grounds on Monday evenings at 7pm is in its second week, but don’t worry if you missed the first night or two, you can still sign up next Monday evening. Fit4Life is an Athletics Ireland programme for all runners, whether a complete beginner or a regular jogger or runner. The programme helps participants to achieve improved levels of fitness within the Club structure in a fun and sociable environment. Fit4Life is for all abilities and participants will be grouped by ability for training sessions, allowing runners and walkers to train at an appropriate level. There is progression from walking to jogging to running and no previous experience is needed. Check the Club’s website www.mullingarharriers.com or e-mail info@mullingarharriers.com for further details.
Road Safety
The evenings are really closing in fast, so a reminder to all Club members that they must wear reflective clothing when running on the road in the evenings. That includes all who use our Club grounds and who run from the Clubhouse on training nights.
Check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com or its Facebook page for all the latest news.
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