Saturday next sees the penultimate cross country action on the US collegiate scene taking place with plenty of Irish involvement. The Regional championships take place at several locations with places at stake for the NCAA championships nine days later.

The biggest Irish participation is at Franklin Park in Boston for the North East championships. European U23 5,000m bronze medallist David McCarthy (West Waterford AC) is making steady progress at Providence College and will be looking for a big performance as he puts the final touches to his preparations for the Spar European Cross Country championships in Santry next month. Irish athletes from Stony Brook, Yale, Rhode Island and Iona will also be in action here.

At the South Region championships in Tuscaloosa Holly Knight(Finn Valley AC) represents Auburn University where Mark Carroll is in his first year as coach. The men’s race sees Ciaran O’Lionaird (Leevale AC) competing for Florida State.

McNeese State are in action at the South Central championships in Waco TX, with David Rooney (Raheny Shamrocks AC) contesting the men’s race.

The Southeast championships in Louisville will have Western Kentucky and Coastal Carolina competing, while the NJCAA championships in Peoria Il will also have Irish interest.

With so much action next weekend there was very little happening last weekend. However, David Flynn (Clonliffe Harriers) was 14th at the Division 11 Central championships in Wayne NE. This is his first year at Western State, who are ranked 2nd in the nation. By all accounts this region is the hardest in the country and therefore five teams qualify for nationals – all other regions qualify two teams.
Flynn’s 14th place finish earned him some nice silverware – Top 15 All Region status, and for being 2nd Freshman. His next race is NCAA’s the weekend after next in Indiana where Western State will again be up against Adams State, winners of the Central Region, and number 1 ranked in the nation.

Meanwhile, Roisin McGettigan (Sli Cualann AC) finished sixth in the New England championships.

Div. II XC Central Regional Championship Wayne, NE November 7, 2009 - MEN’S 10,000 Meters
1 Brian Medigovich SR Adams State 30:57
2 Aaron Braun SR Adams State 30:57
3 Reuben Mwei SR Adams State 30:57
14 David Flynn FR Western State 32:19

USATF - New England Championship Franklin Park, Boston
Women 6k
1 Jenn Donovan 27 New Balance Boston 20:48
2 Katie Dicamillo 22 Unattached 21:11
3 Jeannette Seckinger 27 Boston Athletic 21:17
4 Aileen Conlon 27 Central Park TC 21:18
5 Marisa Ryan 24 Unattached 21:36
6 Roisen McGettigan 29 Unattached - Ire 21:39
22 Sarah Dupre-Healy 33 Boston Athletic 22:35