A team of 40 Athletes, representing some of the best Schools Cross Country Runners in the Country took the SIAB Cross Country International in Wales this weekend securing a bounty of medals, including a silver individual medallist in Cormac Dixon (Holy Family C.S. Rathcoole), 4 Silver and 2 Bronze Team Medals.
The tough course of inclines and steep pathways was made firm with the bright sun and warming spring temperatures, for athletes and spectators to enjoy.
Junior Girls:
Isa Marie McCarron (Our Lady’s & St Patricks College, Knock) was the first member of Team Ireland’s Junior Girls Team to cross the line at the SIAB International Schools Cross Country Competition. McCarron crossed the finish line in overall 11th position in a time of 12:07 out of an intense race of 32 of the finest Cross Country Runners from Ireland and Great Britain. McCarron won the Ulster Schools Cross Country Championships last month.
Eimear Cooney (Sacred Heart, Drogheda) followed McCarron closely crossing the line in 13th with a time of 12:16.
Team England secured the top 6 finishes across the line with Shaikira King taking gold in the Junior Girls 3,000m SIAB Cross Country International.
Team Place: Bronze Medal
Team Ireland Junior Girls Race Results:
11th Isa Maria McCarron, Our Ladys & St Patricks College, Knock
13th Eimear Cooney, Sacred Heart, Drogheda
16th Niamh Garvey, Killina Presentation S.S
17th Emily Bolton, Mount Sackville, Dublin
19th Dearbhla Allen, St. Marys, Dundalk
26th Cora Scullion, Loreto Grammar, Omagh
29th Isabel Cuffe, Lucan Community College
32nd Jodi Foster, Down High School, Downpatrick
Junior Boys:
All Ireland Schools Cross Country Champion Sean Corry (St. Michael's College, Enniskillen) was the first home for Team Ireland’s Junior Boys, coming 6th in the overall competition. Corry's sixth place spear headed the Junior Boys to a Team Silver medal.
Declan O’Connell (Clarin College, Athenry) came close behind Corry coming 9th across the line.
Team Place: Silver Medal
Team Ireland Junior Boys Race Results:
6th Sean Corry, St. Michael's College, Enniskillen
9th Declan O’Connell, Clarin College, Athenry
11th Eamon Coyle, CBS Roscommon
13th Rhys Johnson, Pipers Hill College, Naas
15th Leo Murray, Douglas Community School, Cork
17th Simon Farrell, St. Flannans College, Ennis
20th Jamie Wallace, Colaiste Mhuire, Mullingar
24th Tiarnan McManus, St. Michael's College, Enniskillen
Junior Mixed Relay:
Following in the footsteps of Senior Mixed Relay Teams, the SIAB International Schools Cross Country Junior Mixed Relay Team of Liam Morris (Colaiste Chilliain, Dublin), Katie Ella McKittrick (Sullivan Upper School, Belfast), Seamus O’Donoghue (Pobailscoil Inbhear, Sceine, Kenmare) and Eavann Duffy (Loreto Clonmel) secured an impressive silver medal. The Team took the 4x1500m course pulling out an impressive performance, coming behind gold medal winning Team England in less than 30 seconds.
Intermediate Girls:
It was a close contest Intermediate Girls competition, with Clodagh Gill (St. Marys Ballina) being the first Irish woman to cross the finish line. The Mayo native was part of the top 10, securing an 8th place finish taking on a strong Team England who top secured 8 of the top 10 positions.
Lucy Foster (Down High School, Downpatrick) was the second member of Team Ireland to cross the line in 11th place.
Team Place: Bronze medal
Team Ireland Intermediate Girls Race Results:
8th Clodagh Gill, St. Marys Ballina
11th Lucy Foster, Down High School, Downpatrick
20th Caitlin Hughes, St. Louis C.S. Kiltimagh
21st Nicole Dinan, St. Angela's Cork
22nd Eimear Hughes, St. Joseph's Castlebar
26th Hannah Wade, Thornhill College, Derry
28th Hazel Hughes, Our Ladys S.S. Castleblaney
29th Holly O’Brien, St. Andrew's College, Dublin
Intermediate Boys:
Cormac Dixon (Holy Family C.S. Rathcoole) pulled out an outstanding performance for Team Ireland as with his Silver Individual Medal from the Intermediate Boys Competition completing the 6,000m course in 20:42.
Billy Coogan (Kilkenny C.B.S.), Darragh Mulrooney (Jesus & Mary S.S. Enniscrone), and All Ireland Schools Cross Country Champion Luaghaidh Mallon (Rathmore Grammar School Belfast) crossed the line in under a minute behind Dixon.
Team Place: Silver Medal
Team Ireland Intermediate Boys Race Results:
2nd Cormac Dixon, Holy Family C.S. Rathcoole
9th Billy Coogan, Kilkenny C.B.S.
11th Darragh Mulrooney, Jesus & Mary S.S. Enniscrone
12th Lughaidh Mallon, Rathmore Grammar School Belfast
14th Oliver Hopkins, St. Declan's College, Dublin
21st Franics Donoghue, Summerhill College Sligo
23rd Peter Farrell, St. Flannans College, Ennis
26th Gerard Dunne, Kilrusch Community School
Intermediate Mixed Relay:
The Intermediate Mixed Relay Team of Oscar Legge (St Andrew's College, Dublin), Caoimhe Kilmurray (Loreto Mullingar), Caolan McFadden (Loreto C.S. Milford) and Poppy Hastings (Rainey Endowed School, Magherafelt) secured the second Mixed Relay Silver Medal at the SIAB Cross Country International. Similarly, to the Junior Mixed relay, the Team took the 4x1500m course coming behind gold medal winning Team England in less than 30 seconds.
Irish Cross Country running is going from strength to strength. After strong performances at the European Athletics Cross Country Championships last December, where previous SIAB Cross Country International competitors took to the European stage, there is strong blossoming cross country talent coming through in our schools and clubs, for a bright future.
Full Results: HERE
