Another master class in tactics and pure natural ability brought gold glory to Fathi Aden in the Dublin Even Age Groups Cross Country championships at the Phoenix Park on Sunday. Leading a team of six Donore Harriers athletes in the Boys u/14s race over a distance of 3km the Synge Street student made a conservative start and was lying in 14^th position after 500 metres. At the half-way mark he had moved up to fifth. Once the race headed into the wooded area with a kilometre to go Fathi changed up a gear and took control of the race. As the race entered onto the long home straight at the north-end of the football pitches Fathi had taken a commanding lead. He won comfortably with 20 plus metres to spare over his nearest rival.

Next Donore Harriers athlete home was Jack Raftery in 27^th position, with Jack Connolly 33^rd, Ronan McCooey 41^st, Luke Kelly 42^nd and James McDonagh.

The girls under 16s race over 4km proved to be eventful, but ultimately somewhat disappointing for the team. DSD athletes dominated at the front whilst Lucy McCann showed dogged determination to place an excellent 5^th. Next home for the team was the ever improving Suzanne Masterson in 9th spot – with Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh just one place further back. With 3 runners in the top ten the silver medals in the team competition was all but assured. However new girl Ciara Murphy retired injured from the race with just one kilometre to go. Ciara was running in about 20^th position, but the recurrence of a severe shin splint injury put paid to her valiant performance. It was all very unfortunate, but respect to Ciara for showing bravery and making such a determined effort on the day. She will certainly be one to watch in the future.

The best team result came in the Boys under 16s race, also over 4km, with a 4^th placing behind winners DSD, Clonliffe (2^nd) and Tallaght AC (3^rd). The team was led home by Sekeriye Ahmed in 13^th place. This was a very encouraging run from ‘Zack’ who was stepping-up an age group. The second scorer was Gabhan O’Tighearnaigh in 24^th, with Sean Creagh 27^th and Daniel Brady 31^st. Andrew Strickland retired from the race after 2.5km due to a hamstring injury. Andrew is another relative newcomer to the club and will be an important member of the team going forward.

Fathi, Lucy, Suzanne and Eliza qualify to represent Dublin in the National Juvenile Cross Country championship at Dundalk IT next month. Sekeriye will contest the Dublin Uneven Age Groups championship in the u/15s class at Santry Park on the 2^nd of November.

Results in brief: –

Girls u/10s (1000m) 15^th Grace Raftery

Boys u/10s (1000m) 29^th Oliver Hopkins

Girls u/14s (3000m) 54^th Niamh Clarke; 56^th Shona Smyth

Boys u/14s (3000m) 1^st Fathi Aden; 27^th Jack Raftery; 33^rd Jack Connolly; 41^st Ronan McCooey; 42^nd Luke Kelly; also James McDonagh

Girls u/16s (4000m) 5^th Lucy McCann; 9^th Suzanne Masterson; 10^th Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh; also Ciara Murphy retired injury

Boys u/16s (4000m) 13^th Sekeriye Ahmed; 24^th Gabhan O’Tighearnaigh; 27^th Sean Creagh; 31^st Daniel Brady; also Andrew Strickland retired injured

Boys u/18s (6000m) Oisin Fitzgibbon retired due to an injury at the halfway point