Westmeath AAI Cross Country 2018 – day 1 (7th Oct)
Encouraging performances at Westmeath Cross Country
In contrast to the lovely day for the recent Westmeath Schools Cross Country, which attracted a huge number of runners and spectators, day 1 of the Westmeath AAI Cross Country Championships in Belvedere on Sunday morning 7th October was understandably a very much quieter affair. Competition was for boys and girls u/8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 years of age. Underfoot conditions were absolutely excellent but there was a strong wind that made the day feel quite cold, so no one was inclined to hang around too long after their race. Maybe it was the weather, but numbers taking part were a little down on last year but that didn’t take from the great competition in each race and performances were very encouraging in the older age groups in particular, where the focus was on places on Club and County teams for the upcoming Leinster 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 u/8 and u/10 races 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 the courses chosen for the Leinsters. Thanks to all who helped on day 1 recording the results and stewarding on the course and particularly to the many parents who came and supported the competitors.
There were some very good individual performances on day 1 but Championship cross country is also about team running, so everyone was being closely watched by Club officials, particularly the newcomers. The results of both days will be used to select teams to represent the Club and Westmeath in the upcoming Leinster Championships. The results of the Novice men and women races on day 2 (Sunday 14th) will also be used to select Club and County teams for the Leinster Championships, so all adult members that won’t be competing in the Dublin City Marathon but want to run in the Leinster Championships must run on day 2.
Competition on day 2 (Sunday 14th) will be for boys and girls u/9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and u/19 and 18 years, and for men and women junior, novice, senior and master. The first race will be at 11am so the younger runners should be in Belvedere before 10.30am to get ready and know where they have to run. The Westmeath AAI Cross Country is an open competition and you don’t have to be a member of a Club to take part, so everyone who took part in the schools cross country is very welcome to compete.
The Leinster Championships take place over two days, with two weeks between each, so juvenile athletes can run in their own age group and can move up an age group to make up teams. Therefore, we expect all juveniles to compete on both days of the Westmeath Championships unless ill or injured or they might be disappointed if not selected.
The results of day one are HERE.
