Jack Rudden Kelly arrived in Athlone on Saturday for the AVIVA all Ireland schools combined event representing Castleknock Community College. After a disappointing long jump Jack showed true resilience by not letting it affect the rest of his day as he went on to attain three personal bests in the shot putt, 200m and 800m and running a solid 9.15 in the 60m hurdles. After the five grueling events he finished in 4th position which qualifies him to represent Ireland in the SIAB schools international combined event in the Emirates Arena, Glasgow on the 14th of December.
On the same day, Donore Harriers had two representatives in the Irish team at the British & Irish Masters Cross Country International at Cardiff. Niall Lynch finished 33rd overall in the Men’s 35-49 age category, but placed 12th in the M40-45 group and helped the Irish team (43 points) to silver medal position behind England (13) and ahead of |Scotland (51). Niall recorded a time of 25:46 for the 8.000m race. In the o/65 race, run over 6.000m, Terry Mee placed 22nd overall in 25:18 – but came an excellent 5th in the o/70s category and he led home the 3-scoring Irish o/70s team that finished in 4th position.
4 athletes competed in the National Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships held at Santry Demense on Sunday 17th of November
In the Senior Women’s Race held over 8000m Sinead Lambe (31st in 30:49) had a solid run and finished as second scorer for the Wexford team that finished as 4th county overall with 4 to score.
John Travers placed 12th in the Senior Men’s race in a time of 32:18. John was very much to the fore at the half way stage of the 10.000m, 6-lap course that included a mixture of soft and firm underfoot conditions. Then, as eventual winner Paul Pollock (Antrim) made his break, John’s grip on a top 10 placing faded – but he dug deep to place as 4th of 6 scorers in the winning Dublin team. He also achieved his goal for selection on the Irish team for the European Cross Country championships due to take place in Belgrade, Serbia on the 8th of December 2013 when he placed 2nd overall in the u/23s category losing out by inches to Ryan McDermott (same time as John) who was representing Antrim.
Eric Keogh (51st overall in 34:05) acquitted himself very well to place 11th in the u/23s competition. This was Eric’s first appearance in a national championships and his progress over the last year has been significant and indication of better results to come.
Darren Hand shook off the Dublin marathon cobwebs to put in a solid race representing his native Cavan. Darren placed 92nd in 36.05s and helped his county team to 4th place in the ‘B’ category.
A short drive away and a little earlier in the day, we had 17 ladies in total racing in the first race of the Meet and Train Winter XC League. Karen Behan continued her magnificent form and was first home for Donore in 3rd place in great time of 12:30, followed by Janet Strickland 5th, Sinead Graham 6th and Rhona Duane 12th, Eva Campion 16th, Cliodhna Carthy 26th, Lee Chambers 27th, Cristina Gonzalez 33rd, Lind Curtin 58th, Sarah Ni Ruairc 66th, Meadbh Campbell 67th, Eilish Joyce 68th, Dana Mackey 74th, Mary Murphy 75th, Michelle Dawson 93rd, Deborah Duffy 104 and Sue Lynch 119.
Everyone ran and packed really well and the Donore Team A easily won the first race of the Winter League.
Last weekend, in the Remembrance Run 5K, Ian Redican was first home with 19:51, followed by Lee Chambers doing a little recovery run after her marathon heroics in 22:26, Michelle Dawson made a welcome return to the roads to come home in 24:40. Mary O’Donoghue and Lorraine Doran also ran with 31:10 and 55:53.
Well done to all!