All Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships
Date: 14/3/11
It was an unbelievable day for the club at the All Ireland Schools XC Championships on Saturday with Douglas CS winning the senior boys team title, the junior boys winning team silver and Ian Hartnett finishing 2nd in the inter race and will now captain the Irish Schools team in 2 weeks time.
The National Aquatic Centre in Abbotstown Dublin was the perfect venue for the AVIVA All Ireland schools and Irish Universities cross country championships. The flat course provided great underfoot conditions and as a result fast running was the order of the day. It proved to be a day that will long live in the memory of club athletes with every athlete producing their best ever performances.
The minor boys were 1st up over 2500m and produced a great results coming 7th team in their 1st ever All Ireland championships. James Gorton led them home in 23rd position and other great runs came from Evan Byrne, David Smith and Alan Morgan. The junior boys produced the biggest performance of the day winning the silver team medals having finished 3rd at the Munster championships. It was an absolute storming peformance by these guys with Liam Harris running a proverbial blinder coming 12th, missing out on a place on the Irish team by 3 secs. Behind him Jamie O Connell had his finest ever run to come 26th and with Declan O Herlihy and Fionn Bracken running well the team took the silver medals. Ian Hartnett sat amongst the race leaders for the early part of the inter boys 5000m race and when Sean Tobin of Clonmel made his move only Ian could go with him. Ian ran one of his best ever races to finish in 2nd place and will now captain the Irish team at the Schools International XC in 2 weeks time. Douglas CS came a good 6th in the team contest with great runs by Billy Murphy and Eoin Bourke.
The senior boys 6500m race was full of drama from start to finish. The team were without the services of number one runner Peter Hanrahan but still managed to win the team title after a very close team battle with St Malachys College Belfast. Douglas CS took it by a mere point but the manner in which the team came together on the day and the guts they portrayed throughout the race was amazing to witness. Cullen Lynch the team captain led by example with a superb 17th place finish. Behind him Patrick Coleman, Ian Tobin and Emmet Bracken were running mighty races and kept the St Malachys team at bay. Congratulations to Cullen, Patrick, Ian, Emmet, Cillian, Mark, Dave, Rob and Jamie on a great win and one that will not be forgotten in a hurry.
Finally in the University race the club had Alan O Brien CIT, Craig Harrington CIT, Adam Kelleher CIT, Peter Fennell Trinity and Dan Weaver UCC all in action. Peter Fennell led them home in solid 41st place after serious injury problems the last year or so followed by Alan O Brien in 73rd place.
Well done to all the athletes on a truly magnificent day for the club.
Photos
It was an unbelievable day for the club at the All Ireland Schools XC Championships on Saturday with Douglas CS winning the senior boys team title, the junior boys winning team silver and Ian Hartnett finishing 2nd in the inter race and will now captain the Irish Schools team in 2 weeks time.
The National Aquatic Centre in Abbotstown Dublin was the perfect venue for the AVIVA All Ireland schools and Irish Universities cross country championships. The flat course provided great underfoot conditions and as a result fast running was the order of the day. It proved to be a day that will long live in the memory of club athletes with every athlete producing their best ever performances.
The minor boys were 1st up over 2500m and produced a great results coming 7th team in their 1st ever All Ireland championships. James Gorton led them home in 23rd position and other great runs came from Evan Byrne, David Smith and Alan Morgan. The junior boys produced the biggest performance of the day winning the silver team medals having finished 3rd at the Munster championships. It was an absolute storming peformance by these guys with Liam Harris running a proverbial blinder coming 12th, missing out on a place on the Irish team by 3 secs. Behind him Jamie O Connell had his finest ever run to come 26th and with Declan O Herlihy and Fionn Bracken running well the team took the silver medals. Ian Hartnett sat amongst the race leaders for the early part of the inter boys 5000m race and when Sean Tobin of Clonmel made his move only Ian could go with him. Ian ran one of his best ever races to finish in 2nd place and will now captain the Irish team at the Schools International XC in 2 weeks time. Douglas CS came a good 6th in the team contest with great runs by Billy Murphy and Eoin Bourke.
The senior boys 6500m race was full of drama from start to finish. The team were without the services of number one runner Peter Hanrahan but still managed to win the team title after a very close team battle with St Malachys College Belfast. Douglas CS took it by a mere point but the manner in which the team came together on the day and the guts they portrayed throughout the race was amazing to witness. Cullen Lynch the team captain led by example with a superb 17th place finish. Behind him Patrick Coleman, Ian Tobin and Emmet Bracken were running mighty races and kept the St Malachys team at bay. Congratulations to Cullen, Patrick, Ian, Emmet, Cillian, Mark, Dave, Rob and Jamie on a great win and one that will not be forgotten in a hurry.
Finally in the University race the club had Alan O Brien CIT, Craig Harrington CIT, Adam Kelleher CIT, Peter Fennell Trinity and Dan Weaver UCC all in action. Peter Fennell led them home in solid 41st place after serious injury problems the last year or so followed by Alan O Brien in 73rd place.
Well done to all the athletes on a truly magnificent day for the club.
Photos
