GARDINER AND DIXON STORM TO SENIOR ALL IRELAND SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY TITLES
Anna Gardiner (Assumption GS) and Cormac Dixon (Holy Family Community School R'coole) claimed the 2024 senior titles at the 123.ie All Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships which were hosted at Tymon Park in Tallaght today (March 9th).
Gardiner showed her class in the senior girl’s race, completing the 3,500m course in a winning time of 12.59 which left her with 18 seconds to spare over a quality field. Lucy Foster (Down HS Downpatrick) was second in 13:17, with Meabh Eakin (Ballymakenny College) taking bronze in 13:27.
Loreto College (68) secured the team title with impressive showings from team members Grace Byrne 6, Louise Callaghan 24, Jessica Cunningham 38, Shauna Callaghan 47, and Amie Hanly 73.
The senior boy’s race was a stacked affair and it lived up to the hype with local favourite Cormac Dixon (Holy Family Community School R'coole) roared home in a winning time of 19:00 over the 6,000m distance.
Dixon was pushed all the way by fellow podium finishers Noah Harris (ETSS Wicklow) 19:04 and Sean Lawton (Colaiste Pobail Bantry) 19:08.
St. Aidan's C.B.S. claimed the senior team title with a final score of 121, led home by Tom Breslin in 19th. Breslin was ably supported by teammates Sam Murray 33, Devan Morrisey 34, Rory Quill 35, Cillian Keegan 39, Jack McDonnell 72, Josh Mahon 75, and Cathal O'Neill 90.
Emily Bolton (Mount Sackville Sec. School Chapelizod) stormed to another cross country title in the intermediate girl’s race, crossing the finish ten seconds clear of her nearest challenger in a winning time of 13:01 (3,500m).
O'dhran McBrearty (St Columbas Stranorlar) made the long trip home all the sweeter with a win in the intermediate boys 5,000m race, getting the better of Leo Murray (Douglas) and Declan O’Connell in the final kilometre to cross in a winning time of 16:22.
The Renton twins led home the winning SH Westport team in the junior girl’s race. The team also included Erin Walsh and Eimear Jennings, with the Renton sisters leading them home with 1st and 3rd place positions on the podium. Freya Renton (SH Westport) took gold in 8:59 (2,500m), with Emma Haugh (St Flannans Ennis) 9:19 and Holly Renton (SH Westport) 9:23 completing the leading trio.
The junior boy’s title went to an impressive Charlie O'Neill (Belvedere College) in 11:55 (3,500m), while the minor titles were won impressively by Madison Welby (Friends School Lisburn) and Darragh Whelan (Castletroy College).
Close to 1,000 athletes battled it out at what was the 60th edition of the championships and Athletics Ireland would like to congratulate all who qualified for this year’s 123.ie All Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships.
Results Summary
Senior Girls 3,500m
1 Anna GARDINER Assumption GS 12:59
2 Lucy FOSTER Down HS Downpatrick 13:17
3 Meabh EAKIN Ballymakenny College 13:27
Senior Girls Team Result
1. Loreto College (68) - Grace BYRNE 6, Louise CALLAGHAN 24, Jessica CUNNINGHAM 38, Shauna CALLAGHAN 47, Amie HANLY 73
2. Sacred Heart Tullamore (72) - Andrea RYAN 11, Rachel DONEGAN 28, Eabhadh MULTANEY-KELLY 33, Meabh ROUSE 54
3. Colaiste Muire Ennis (118) - Grace RYNNE 23, Aimee BARRETT 43, Lucy POWER 52, Nicole KEANE 57
Senior Boys 6,000m
1 Cormac DIXON Holy Family Community School R'coole 19:00
2 Noah HARRIS ETSS Wicklow 19:04
3 Sean LAWTON Colaiste Pobail Bantry 19:08
Senior Boys Team Result
1. St. Aidan's C.B.S. (121) - Tom BRESLIN 19, Sam MURRAY 33, Devan MORRISEY 34, Rory QUILL 35, Cillian KEEGAN 39, Jack MCDONNELL 72, Josh MAHON 75, Cathal O'NEILL 90
2. St Michaels Enniskillen (127) - Jamie MCDONNELL 13, Frank BUCHANAN 21, Charlie REIHILL 37, Cillian SPRICE 56, Patrick SPRICE 71, Ronan GILBRIDE 86
3. St Colmans Fermoy (131) - William VERLING 8, Aidan MAHER 32, Jack LACZAK 38, Peter VERLING 53, Patrick VERLING 85, Alex GYVES 97
Int Girls 3,500m
1 Emily BOLTON Mount Sackville Sec. School Chapelizod 13:01
2 Dearbhla ALLEN St. Mary's College 13:11
3 Emily MORRIS Strathearn School 13:11
Int Boys 5,000m
1 O'dhran MCBREARTY St Columbas Stranorlar 16:22
2 Leo MURRAY Douglas CS 16:31
3 Declan O'CONNELL Clarin College Athenry 16:33
Junior Girls 2,500m
1 Freya RENTON SH Westport 8:59
2 Emma HAUGH St Flannans Ennis 9:19
3 Holly RENTON SH Westport 9:23
Junior Boys 3,500m
1 Charlie O'NEILL Belvedere College 11:55
2 Evan TOSH Belfast Royal Academy 12:03
3 Ciarán CONSIDINE Seamount College Kinvara 12:09
Minor Girls 2,000m
1 Madison WELBY Friends School Lisburn 6:57
2 Laura AYRES St Leo's Carlow 7:05
3 Beth REAMSBOTTOM Santa Sabina 7:10
Minor Boys 2,500m
1 Darragh WHELAN Castletroy College 8:48
2 Ethan BRAMHILL Greystones CC 8:52
3 Ryan VICKERS St Brendans Killarney 9:00
- Full List of results HERE