To start the week Lindie Naughton brings us all the Irish endurance action and news from the weekend just gone (Monday 4th November).
Emma McEvoy (Dundrum South Dublin AC) and David Scanlon (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) were the winners at the Dublin Senior Cross-Country Championships at Citywest Saggart on Sunday (October 3).
Both races were over the 6.5km distance, with the women up first. On a balmy afternoon and with perfect underfoot conditions McEvoy took an early lead and raced away to win in 26 mins 39 secs. Athletes from Dublin City Harriers took up the next four positions assuring them of team victory. Orla Duffy was second in 27:33, followed by Edel Monaghan in 27:42, Sorcha McAllister in 27:47 and Cliona Murphy in 28:07. DSD finished second team with Raheny Shamrock third.
In the men’s race, also over 6.5km, the lead changed more than once before Scanlon made his move on the final lap to storm home in 23 mins 39 secs. Stephen Cashin (Clonliffe Harriers) was second in 23:42 and Éanna Ó Bradaigh (Dundrum South Dublin) third.
With its four counters in the top ten, Clonliffe Harriers finished first team beating Dundrum South Dublin by just four points. Rathfarnham WSAF, led by Scanlon, finished third team.
Dublin Senior Cross-Country Championships: Men’s winner David Scanlon (Rathfarnham WSAF AC). Picture: Lindie Naughton
The junior races
Winning the junior women’s race in some style was Emily Bolton who has recently tranferred from Donore Harries to Clonliffe Harriers. She finished in 16:04. Second was Lorraine O’Connor another new recruit for Clonliffe, in 16:35 while a fighting third was Holly O’Brien of Blackrock AC) in 16:50. With Mya O’Reilly making up the counting trio in 14th place, Clonliffe Harriers was the winning team. Lucan Harriers, was second and Donore Harriers third.
In the men’s junior race Sean Quinn (Dundrum South Dublin) was the clear winner in 13:38, followed by Louie Woodger (Metro St Brigid’s) in 13:59 and Ryan O’Neill (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) in 14:00
Clonliffe Harriers finished first team with Donore Harriers second and Dundrum South Dublin third. Both junior races were over a 4.5km distance.
Cross-country elsewhere
At Tramore Racecourse, Lizzie Lee (Leevale AC) won her umpteenth title at the Munster Senior Cross-Country Championships, also on Sunday. Lee was a clear winner in 28 mins 12 secs, with her Leevale clubmate Michelle Kenny second in 28:43 and Laura Cooney (Clonmel AC) third in 28:54. With Claire McCarthy fourth and Whitney Post sixth, Leevale were clear winners of the team title. Clonmel AC was secod and Ennis TC third.
In a double for master athletes, Michael Harty (East Cork AC) won the men’s race in 23:50. Declan Moore (Bilboa AC) was second in 24:02 and Tony Forristal (East Cork AC) third in 24:16. East Cork won the team title by seven points from Thurles Crokes with St Finbarr’s AC third.
At U19 level, Saoirse Twomey (West Muskerry AC) won the women’s race in 17:26 and led her club to team victory. Finian Lawton (DurrUs AC) was the men’s winner in 14:31.
At the Connacht Cross-Country Championships in Roscommon, Abaas Edris (Castlegar AC) won the men’s race from Aaron Brennan (Galway City Harriers) and Aimad Belayd (Castlegar AC).
Women’s winner was Mari Johnston (Sligo AC, W50), with Anna Dooner (Roscommon Harriers, W35) second and Colette Tuohy (Mayo AC, W50) third. Moy Valley made it a double in the under 19 races with Kea Lavelle first woman and Marc Munnelly best of the men.
Saturday racing
Claire Fagan (Mullingar Harriers) won the women’s race at the Leinster Senior Cross-County Championships held at Fairwood Park, Tinehealy, Co Wicklow, on Saturday (November 2); her time was 21 mins 14 secs. Alex Murphy (Suncroft AC) was second and Hannah Kehoe (Kilkenny City Harriers) third.
First U23 was Abbie Sheridan (St Peter’s AC) in sixth place. Fagan was also leading Mullingar Harriers to team victory over Sli Cualann with only two club teams entered. Westmeath was first county ahead of Kilkenny and Wicklow.
Making it a Mullingar Harriers double by winning the men’s race was Vinny Connolly who finished in 28:28. Michael Murphy (Tullamore Harriers) was second in 28:32 and Cian Kelly (St Abban’s) third in 28:52. Mullingar Harriers won the team competiton, with Tullamore Harriers second and St Abban’s third. Laois was the winning county, with Westmeath second and Offaly third.
At U19 level, Dearbhla Allen (St Peter’s AC) won the women’s race with Callum Barron (Kilkenny City Harriers) first of the men.
Stranorlar, Co Donegal was the venue for the NI and Ulster Novice Cross-Country, where Marianne Doherty not only won the women’s race but also led Lagan Valley to team victory over Annadale Striders, led by Lucy Backus who finished second woman. Rosses AC was third team, led by Bernie Boyle who finished third overall.
Minolaugas Balciouska (Monaghan Town Runners) was the men’s winner, with Jared Martin (Ballydrain Harriers) a close second and Noah Kavanagh (Lagan Valley AC) third. Ballydrain finished first team, winning on countback from Lagan Valley, with City of Derry Spartans third.
Lucy Foster (Willowfield Harriers) won the U18 women’s race comfortably, with Lagan Valley the only team to finish, while first of the U19 men was Caolan McFadden (Cranford AC) with host club Finn Valley the first team.
Finn McNally (North Belfast Harries) was a comfortable winner of the 88th McConnell Shield 5-mile Cross-Country, held at Sixmilewater Park, Ballyclare. McNally finished in 25 mins 54 secs, with Finn Diver (Beechmount Harriers) second in 26:29 and Stephen Connolly (Annadale Striders) third in 26:35. Finishing eighth and first master was Declan Reed (City of Derry Spartans, M50) in 27:22.
Winning the women’s three-mile race was Rebecca Rossiter (CNDR TC) in 17:52. Kirsty Foster (Willowfield Harries) was a close second in 17:55 and Roise Roberts (CNDR TC) third in 17:58. Fifth and first master was Elisoa Crawford (North Belfast Harriers, W50) in 18:19. Winner of the M60 race, also over three miles, was David Clarke (North Belfast Harriers) in 18:56.
Roads and trails
John Meade (St Finbarr’s AC) was the winner of the Stone Mad Half Marathon in Blarney, Co Cork on Sunday. His time of 71:26 put him well clear of the chasers led by Declan Guina in 72:07 with Donncha Kiely third in 74:45. First woman in 84:27 was Emma Doyle. Laura Noonan was second in 87:34 and Karen Twomey third in 87:36.
Alix Jones (Tuam AC), the current Irish Universities 400m hurdles champion, was first woman at the Corofin 8km in Co Galway on Sunday (November 3), winning in a time of 28 mins 41 secs and finishing seventh overall. Overall race winner was Mick Fogarty (Ferbane AC, M40) in 25:41.
Patrick McColl (Belfast Roadrunners AC) and Deb O’Neill were the winners at the Run Forest Run 5km/10km at Minnowburn, Mary Peters Track, Belfast, on Saturday, with 624 completing the race. A further 205 ran the 5km.
Stateside
Laura Mooney (Tullamore Harriers helped Providence College to second place in the women’s 6km race at the Big East Cross Country Championships in Marven Park, Leesburg, Virginia, on Friday (November 1) finishing tenth overall in 20 mins 40 secs. Niamh O’Mahoney (An Riocht AC) finished 18th and Cara Laverty (Finn Valley) 20th.
In the men’s 8km race, James Dunne (Tullamore Harriers) finished fifth, Michael Morgan (Sligo AC) seventh, Cormac Dixon (Tallaght AC) 16th, Sean Donoghue (DCH), 21st. Shane Coffey (Naas AC) was 38th and Liam McCay (Finn Valley AC) 39th.
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Source: fastrunning.com