Autumn Open Preview

Cross Country begins in earnest

The Autumn Open International Cross Country Festival kicks off the winter season in earnest with athletes of all ages and abilities taking to the purpose-built course at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus this Sunday (October 21st).

The event showcases Ireland’s talent from junior level right up to the masters along with a selection of international runners. Entry list and timetable HERE.

The combined women’s race of U20, seniors and masters (and men 65+) gets underway in Abbotstown at 2pm with respective distances of 4,500m (junior and masters 65+) and 6,000m (seniors and masters 35-64).

The men’s race is also combined with respective distances of 6,000m (U20 men) and 7,500m at 2:45pm.

The women’s race has a strong entry with last year’s winner Shona Heaslip (An Riocht) listed to start along with Emma Mitchell (Queens), Michelle Finn (Leevale) and Fionnuala Ross (Armagh) amongst others.

Emma O'Brien (Sli Cualann A.C.) has been impressive form already this winter and will be one of the leading contender in the U20 women’s race.

The masters’ athletes have had another fantastic summer of success and will roll on into the cross country season with places up for grabs for the British and Irish Masters Cross Country.

 Likely suspects such Niamh O’Sullivan (An Riocht), Sara Doohan (Corran) and Annette Kealy (Raheny Shamrock) will be leading lights in their respective age groups.   

Sean Tobin (Clonmel), 15th in the European Cross Country Championships last year, will run his first domestic cross country race for five years over 7,500m and will look for a strong showing ahead of the Irish Life Health National Cross Country Championships on November 25th and the Europeans in Tilburg, Netherlands on December 9th.

His clubmate, Kevin Maunsell, was a revelation last year finishing 24th at the European championships where the men’s team finished 5 and at 37 he will also be in contention in both the senior race and the M35 section.

Kevin’s brother, William, will also be in the mix in the senior race that includes Kenya’s Gideon Kipsang, second last year, Adam Kirk-Smith (Derry Track Club), third last year and a host of other top domestic talent.    

U20 men’s 6,000m entrants as part of the last race of the day include last year’s winner Darragh McElhinney (Bantry), Craig McMeechan (North Down) and Micheal Power (West Waterford).

Also covering the 7,500m distance in the race will be the men’s masters 35-64 and includes athletes such as Brian Maher (Kilkenny City Harriers), Shane Healy (Metro/St Brigid’s) and John Todd (Tullamore Harriers) in respective age categories. The master men 65 and above also compete in the women’s race.

It promises to be another festival atmosphere with good weather expected to provide some fast racing.