Ras Na hEireann International Cross-Country
Date: 23/2/08
Togher athletes competed at the 39th edition of the Ras Na hEireann International Cross-Country event held at Termonfechin Co. Louth. Representing their school Douglas CS, a group of 22 athletes took part and all had a very successful day. The course proved to be in excellent condition with flat and firm ground, ideal for fast running.
The u15 boys team were first into action racing over 3,000m. Emmett Bracken led the team home with a superb 5th place finish and he was followed home by superb runs from Ian Tobin 8th, James Kelleher 10th and Andrew O’ Keeffe 12th. The younger runners on the team also had great runs considering it was their first ever 3,000m race. They included Eoin Bourke, John Durcan, Billy Murphy, Gary McCarthy and Cillian Crowley. The team came a superb 1st place and are now looking forward to the All-Ireland Schools Cross-Country championships on March 8th.
The boys u17/u19 race was combined and was run over 4,000m. Richard Quirke continued his fine form of late with a super 8th place finish overall (4th u19). Adam Kelleher had another great run for 6th u19 and he was followed home by Mark Tobin 8th u19, David O’ Keeffe 11th u19, Darren Walsh 12th u19, Alan O’ Brien 13th u19 and Alex Kelly 15th u19. In the u17 section Patrick Coleman led the team home with a great 7th place finish. Other great runs came from Brian Murray 9th u17, Conor O’ Brien 14th u17, Shaun Healy 15th u17 and Cullen Lynch 20th u17. The team came a superb 2nd beaten by Mpumalanga Sports Academy from South Africa. Well done to all the athletes on some superb performances. All at the club would like to thank the organizers for a wonderfully run event.
Next weekend Craig Murphy travels to Belfast to take part in the National Inter-Club Cross-Country championships. This also acts as the trials for the World Cross-Country championships being held in Edinburgh in March. Craig is in superb shape at present and looks to finish in the top 2 in the junior mens race to gain automatic selection for the world championships. All at the club would like to wish him the best of luck in Belfast.
Togher athletes also took to the road at the weekend competing in the Eagle AC 5 mile road race in Carrigaline. The course was a testing one with numerous tough climbs. Elton Heffernan ran his best race in months with a superb 2nd place finish in a time of 27.45. Shane Coffey also produced a fine performance with 4th place in 28.13. Donal Coakley battled well to a 21st place finish recording a time of 30.29. Cormac Lehane took the first junior prize with a great run in his first ever race over this distance.
Photos!
Togher athletes competed at the 39th edition of the Ras Na hEireann International Cross-Country event held at Termonfechin Co. Louth. Representing their school Douglas CS, a group of 22 athletes took part and all had a very successful day. The course proved to be in excellent condition with flat and firm ground, ideal for fast running.
The u15 boys team were first into action racing over 3,000m. Emmett Bracken led the team home with a superb 5th place finish and he was followed home by superb runs from Ian Tobin 8th, James Kelleher 10th and Andrew O’ Keeffe 12th. The younger runners on the team also had great runs considering it was their first ever 3,000m race. They included Eoin Bourke, John Durcan, Billy Murphy, Gary McCarthy and Cillian Crowley. The team came a superb 1st place and are now looking forward to the All-Ireland Schools Cross-Country championships on March 8th.
The boys u17/u19 race was combined and was run over 4,000m. Richard Quirke continued his fine form of late with a super 8th place finish overall (4th u19). Adam Kelleher had another great run for 6th u19 and he was followed home by Mark Tobin 8th u19, David O’ Keeffe 11th u19, Darren Walsh 12th u19, Alan O’ Brien 13th u19 and Alex Kelly 15th u19. In the u17 section Patrick Coleman led the team home with a great 7th place finish. Other great runs came from Brian Murray 9th u17, Conor O’ Brien 14th u17, Shaun Healy 15th u17 and Cullen Lynch 20th u17. The team came a superb 2nd beaten by Mpumalanga Sports Academy from South Africa. Well done to all the athletes on some superb performances. All at the club would like to thank the organizers for a wonderfully run event.
Next weekend Craig Murphy travels to Belfast to take part in the National Inter-Club Cross-Country championships. This also acts as the trials for the World Cross-Country championships being held in Edinburgh in March. Craig is in superb shape at present and looks to finish in the top 2 in the junior mens race to gain automatic selection for the world championships. All at the club would like to wish him the best of luck in Belfast.
Togher athletes also took to the road at the weekend competing in the Eagle AC 5 mile road race in Carrigaline. The course was a testing one with numerous tough climbs. Elton Heffernan ran his best race in months with a superb 2nd place finish in a time of 27.45. Shane Coffey also produced a fine performance with 4th place in 28.13. Donal Coakley battled well to a 21st place finish recording a time of 30.29. Cormac Lehane took the first junior prize with a great run in his first ever race over this distance.
Photos!
