Suzanne Masterson of Donore Harriers finished as individual winner of the Girls under 16s category in the Dublin Juvenile cross-country league (Fixture 4) at Tymon Park on Sunday. Having placed 4^th, 3^rd and 2^nd respectively in the first three matches Suzanne ran out an impressive winner of the final race (2km) in the series. The Loreto Stephen’s Green student has had a fine first season over the country and now plans to prepare for the steeplechase ahead of next year’s track and field season.

Eliza NiThighearnaigh placed 3^rd in the same race, a result that earned her the league silver medal. Lucy McCann, who led the points table after the opening 3 races, was unable to compete on Sunday due to a recent appendix operation.

There were also individual silver medals for Grace Raftery in the Girls under 10s and Michael Gibbs in the Boys under 17s. Grace made a conservative start to her 700m race, but a strong finish got her up to 3^rd at the finish line. A race series of 5^th, 6^th and two 3^rd places was good enough for Grace to secure 2^nd overall in the 4 race series. Michael Gibbs, another first season athlete, came 5^th in a competitive Boys under 17s race over 4km. Excellent earlier results (2^nd; 3^rd and 3^rd) ensured that Michael gain the league’s runner-up position behind Mustafa Nasir of Tallaght AC.

In the Boy’s under 14s race over 1500m Fathi Aden, the recently crowned national cross-country champion in the age group, held off the close attention of gallant Pearse Christie of Brothers Pearse AC for his third win in the series. Having missed the first fixture Fathi was unable to contend for a top 3 overall placing.

Jack Raftery placed 3^rd in the same race. This was Jack’s best result to date and indicates his fine potential as an athlete. An ever-improving Jack Connolly placed 11^th despite some cramp pains and his steady progress in races bodes well for the future.

Sekeriye Ahmed came a tremendous 2^nd in the Boys under 15s category over 2km. Sekeriye is proving to be a very fine athlete and another to look out for in the future.

The other Donore Harriers juveniles who competed on Sunday were: – Robert Lynch (18^th), making a very promising debut, in the Boys under 10s (700m); Sean Kinsella (8^th), coming back to form after a recent injury, in the Boys under 11s (1km); Ellie Raftery (20^th), giving a wholehearted effort, in the Girls under 13s (1.5km); Roisin Brady (11^th), with her best result to date, in the Girls under 14s (1.5km); and Daniel Brady (7^th), who faded slightly after an excellent start, in the Boys under 16s (2km).

Next Sunday sees Fathi Aden (stepping-up) and Sekeriye Ahmed in the u/15s and Michael Gibbs represent Dublin in the national uneven age groups cross country championships at Santry Demesne.

Results in brief: –

Dublin Juvenile XC League Fixture 4 at Tymon Park (30/11/14)

u/10s Girls (700m): 3^rd Grace Raftery (second overall in league)

u/10s Boys (700m): 18^th Robert Lynch (debut)

u/11s Boys (1km); 8^th Sean Kinsella

u/13s Girls (1.5km): 20^th Ellie Raftery

u/14s Girls (1.5km): 11st Roisin Brady

u/14s Boys (1.5km): 1^st Fathi Aden; 3^rd Jack Raftery; 11^th Jack Connolly

u/15s Boys (2km): 2^nd Sekeriye Ahmed

u/16s Girls (2km): 1^st Suzanne Masterson (first overall in league); 3^rd Eliza NiThighearnaigh (second overall in league)

u/16s Boys (2km): 7^th Daniel Brady

u/17s Boys (4km): 5^th Michael Gibbs (second overall in league)