Outstanding performances from Jonas Stafford (Glendalough School) and Anna Gardiner (Assumption GS) lit up a rain soaked SETU in Waterford today, with both athletes claiming their respective senior titles at the 123.ie All Ireland Schools’ Cross Country Championships (March 11th).
Stafford was a clear winner in the boy’s race, thriving in the heavy underfoot conditions to cross the finish of the 6k course in 20.56.
The Wicklow athlete finished over 30-seconds ahead of second place Niall Murphy (St Flannans Ennis), with William Verling (St Colmans Fermoy) crossing for third in 22.14.
Nenagh would claim the team honours in dominant fashion thanks to some great pack-running which would result in three of their athletes finishing inside the top eight.
The senior girls race was stacked with quality athletes throughout, and it was Anna Gardiner who finished top of the pile with a race-winning-kick seeing the Assumption GS athlete cross for gold in 13.57 (3.5k).
Gardiner was pushed all the way by Munster pair of Louise O' Mahony (Coláiste Muire Ennis 14:10) and Avril Millerick (St Marys Midleton 14:46).
Hannah Kehoe’s top ten finish would lead Loreto Kilkenny to the team title with 59 points.
Away from the senior races, there were impressive performances from Emily Bolton (Mount Sackville 14.12 - 3.5k) and Francis O'Donoghue (Summerhill College Sligo 18:07 - 5k) who secured the intermediate titles.
Noah Watt (Campbell Col Belfast) won a close contest in the junior boys race, while Sholah Lawrence (Our Lady's Greenhills) arguably put in the performance of the day to claim the win gold in a thrilling junior girls race, recovering from a fall mid-race.
The opening race of the day saw another podium for the Renton twins Freya and Holly (Westport AC), only split on the podium by an ever impressive Freya Bateman who won silver for Mount Mercy College Cork.
Rory Armstrong (Aquinas GS Belfast) covered the 2.5k route in the minor boy’s race in just 9.01 to pick up a well-deserved gold medal.
Results Summary:
Minor Girls
1 » Freya RENTON SH Westport 7:35
2 » Freya BATEMAN Mount Mercy College Cork 7:44
3 » Holly RENTON SH Westport 7:46
1. SH Westport 43
2. Loreto College Foxrock 93
3. Mount Lourdes Enniskillen 95
Minor Boys
1 » Rory ARMSTRONG Aquinas GS Belfast 9:01
2 » Evan TOSH Belfast Royal Academy 9:11
3 » Oran DUIGNAN St Flannans Ennis 9:20
1. St Michaels Enniskillen 105
2. St Colmans Newry 131
3. Belvedere College 140
Junior Girls
1 » Sholah LAWRENCE Our Lady's Greenhills 10:05
2 » Emily MORRIS Strathearn School 10:07
3 » Rachel O'FLYNN Loreto Fermoy 10:08
1. Presentation Kilkenny 32
2. St Angelas Cork 55
3. Ursuline Convent Thurles 61
Junior Boys
1 » Noah WATT Campbell Col Belfast 462 12:55
2 » Kevin FINN Nenagh CBS 443 13:09
3 » Noah CUMMINS St Augustines College 453 13:10
1. Naas CBS 131
2. St Paul's College, Raheny 138
3. Summerhill College Sligo 138
1 » Emily BOLTON Mount Sackville Sec. School Chapelizod 14:12
2 » Clodagh GILL St Marys Ballina 14:26
3 » Eimear COONEY Sacred Heart Sec. School 14:42
1. Mount Sackville Sec. School Chapelizod 70
2. Loreto Letterkenny 81
3. St Aloysius Carrigtwohill 85
Inter Boys
1 » Francis O'DONOGHUE Summerhill College Sligo 18:07
2 » Declan O'CONNELL Clarin College Athenry 18:17
3 » Finn DIVER St Malachys College 18:24
1. St Aidan's C.B.S. 66
2. St Michaels Enniskillen 66
3. Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar 108
Senior Girls
1 » Anna GARDINER Assumption GS 13:57
2 » Louise O'MAHONY Coláiste Muire Ennis 14:10
3 » Avril MILLERICK St Marys Midleton 14:46
1. Loreto Kilkenny 59
2. Coláiste Muire Ennis 72
3. The Institute of Education 76
Senior Boys
1 » Jonas STAFFORD Glendalough school 20:56
2 » Niall MURPHY St Flannans Ennis 21:39
3 » William VERLING St Colmans Fermoy 22:14
1. Nenagh CBS 49
2. Rice College Westport 111
3. St Flannans Ennis 118
Full Results: HERE