The National Inter Club Cross-Country championships
Date: 29/2/08
The National Inter club Cross-Country championships took place in Belfast with Craig Murphy the only athlete competing for the club. The course proved to be a testing one with mucky patches and a few short climbs. The junior mens race was held over 8,000m, four 2km laps. From the start it was the young Donore athlete John Travers who set the pace. Craig settled back in the main group sheltering from the wind. As the race progressed the main group was down to six athletes with Michael Mulhare North Laois AC and Craig pushing the pace on. Eventually Craig and Michael broke away from the rest of the field and a great battled ensued. Michael opened a small gap over Craig at around the 5km point and although Craig tried his best he could not catch the Laois man. Craig put in a massive last 1km and got to within 10m of Michael at the finish, coming a superb 2nd place and gaining selection for the World Cross-Country championships in Edinburgh on March 30th. Congratulations to Craig on a fantastic result and all at the club wish him the best of luck at the World championships. Craig now becomes the first ever athlete from the club to run at the World Cross-Country championships. Congratulations also to Leevales Cathal Lombard on a superb win in the mens 12km race, beating pre race favorite Alistar Cragg.
Also this weekend two of the clubs race walkers were competing in an International competition in the Isle of Man. Mark Dineen was on pace making duties for Tim Healy, bringing him through 5km in 24.50 and Timmy went on the finish in 2nd place in his category with a new personal best time of 49.46. Well done Timmy on a superb performance.
Douglas CS 1st & 2nd year athletes took to the Mardyke track on Thursday for the latest leg of their mile challenge series. All those not competing in the All-Ireland Schools Cross-Country championships took part and all but five athletes recorded personal best times. Twenty-seven athletes towed the line with 2nd year Conor Foley winning in a time of 5.28. He was followed home by Mark O’ Sullivan 5.33 and Mark Seacy 5.43. The performances of the day came from 1st year student Gary McCarthy 8th 6.01, Eoin Bourke 9th 6.02, Jamie Sullivan 10th 6.02, Daniel Leahy 17th 6.30, Paul O’ Keeffe 22nd 7.05, Paul Creagh 14th 6.16 and Cillian Crowley 20th 6.48. Jamie Sullivan ran his first ever mile challenge back in November 2006 recording 8.10 and now he is down to 6.02, a remarkable improvement. Daniel Leahy knocked 40 secs off his previous best with his 6.30 run and Cillian Crowley knocked a huge 57 secs off his previous best with his 6.48 run. Congratulations to all the athletes on their superb performances.
Photos
The National Inter club Cross-Country championships took place in Belfast with Craig Murphy the only athlete competing for the club. The course proved to be a testing one with mucky patches and a few short climbs. The junior mens race was held over 8,000m, four 2km laps. From the start it was the young Donore athlete John Travers who set the pace. Craig settled back in the main group sheltering from the wind. As the race progressed the main group was down to six athletes with Michael Mulhare North Laois AC and Craig pushing the pace on. Eventually Craig and Michael broke away from the rest of the field and a great battled ensued. Michael opened a small gap over Craig at around the 5km point and although Craig tried his best he could not catch the Laois man. Craig put in a massive last 1km and got to within 10m of Michael at the finish, coming a superb 2nd place and gaining selection for the World Cross-Country championships in Edinburgh on March 30th. Congratulations to Craig on a fantastic result and all at the club wish him the best of luck at the World championships. Craig now becomes the first ever athlete from the club to run at the World Cross-Country championships. Congratulations also to Leevales Cathal Lombard on a superb win in the mens 12km race, beating pre race favorite Alistar Cragg.
Also this weekend two of the clubs race walkers were competing in an International competition in the Isle of Man. Mark Dineen was on pace making duties for Tim Healy, bringing him through 5km in 24.50 and Timmy went on the finish in 2nd place in his category with a new personal best time of 49.46. Well done Timmy on a superb performance.
Douglas CS 1st & 2nd year athletes took to the Mardyke track on Thursday for the latest leg of their mile challenge series. All those not competing in the All-Ireland Schools Cross-Country championships took part and all but five athletes recorded personal best times. Twenty-seven athletes towed the line with 2nd year Conor Foley winning in a time of 5.28. He was followed home by Mark O’ Sullivan 5.33 and Mark Seacy 5.43. The performances of the day came from 1st year student Gary McCarthy 8th 6.01, Eoin Bourke 9th 6.02, Jamie Sullivan 10th 6.02, Daniel Leahy 17th 6.30, Paul O’ Keeffe 22nd 7.05, Paul Creagh 14th 6.16 and Cillian Crowley 20th 6.48. Jamie Sullivan ran his first ever mile challenge back in November 2006 recording 8.10 and now he is down to 6.02, a remarkable improvement. Daniel Leahy knocked 40 secs off his previous best with his 6.30 run and Cillian Crowley knocked a huge 57 secs off his previous best with his 6.48 run. Congratulations to all the athletes on their superb performances.
Photos
