STAFFORD AND GARDINER CLAIM ALL IRELAND SCHOOLS’ SENIOR TITLES - Athletics Ireland
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STAFFORD AND GARDINER CLAIM ALL IRELAND SCHOOLS’ SENIOR TITLES

11 March 2023

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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

 

Inter Girls

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

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