Cross Country Curtain Raiser
The Autumn Open Cross Country will be the curtain raiser for the cross country season with athletes young and old looking to make their mark.
This will be the first benchmark for the leading cross country runners in the country ahead of the GloHealth Inter Club Cross Country Championships on the 22nd of November in Santry and the European Cross Country Championships in Hyeres, France on December 13th.
Ennis Track’s star junior Kevin Mulcaire will be looking to cause a stir in the open 8km race forgoing the junior 6km distance. Mulcaire broke John Treacy’s long-standing 5,000m record of 14:04.6 in the summer running 14:02.30 at a British Milers Club meet in Trafford last summer.
Mulcaire finished 33rd at the European Cross Country Championships in 2014 but will be looking to have a far better performance having finished fourth in the 5,000m at the European Junior Athletics Championships.
For a list of the full online entries click here
Junior women
Hope Saunders (Clonliffe Harriers), Clodagh O’Reilly (Annalee), Rhona Pierce (Leevale) and Isabel Carron (Skerries) all competed in the European Cross Country Championships last year and will be going toe to toe in the Phoenix Park. Another athlete in the mix will be Nadia Power (Templeogue) who missed last year's cross country season but competed over 1500m at the World Youth Championships. They will be running 4km in the open 5km race.
Sonia among the entrants in the open 5km
The open 5km mixed race will be a mixture of those enjoying the experience of running cross country to the sharp end of competition between the masters women (all categories), O65 men and junior women along with those looking for a competitive edge over a shorter distance. Sonia O’Sullivan will be taking part ahead of the Dublin Marathon next week and will have a feel good factor as young and old take to the country.
Open 8km
Among those looking to challenge Kevin Mulcaire for supremacy could be seasoned steeplechasers Jayme Rossiter (Clonliffe Harriers) and Emmet Jennings (DSD). Some of the leading women aren’t on the online entry list but 800m specialist Fiona Kehoe (Kilmore AC) and Elizabeth Egan (Bree AC) who was 8th at the GloHealth Inter Clubs in March will be looking to make an impression.
Junior men
The junior men will be competing as part of the Open 8km race. The juniors will be running 6km (3x2km loop) and the leading lights include Fearghal Curtin (Youghal AC), Jack O’Leary (Mullingar Harriers), Cathal Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers), Peter Lynch (Kilkenny City Harriers) and James Edgar (Lisburn).
Masters
The Autumn Open incorporates the trial race for selection for Master Athletes ahead of the forthcoming British & Irish Masters CC International, scheduled for Saturday 14th November in Santry Demense. Athletes must run in their appropriate age groups on the day to be considered for selection & must also be fully paid up Members of the IMAA. For more information click on their website here
