With the national intermediate and senior cross country championships coming up in the next few weeks some of Donore Harriers leading athletes showed good form at the Business Houses open cross country race at Cherryfield Park in Firhouse on Saturday (17/1/15), whilst Lee Van Haeften and Mark Dooley impressed at cross country races in the U.K.

The Donore trio of Eric Keogh (26.57), Michael McMahon (27.17) and Colm O‘Connell (27.41) dominated the front of the Business Houses 5 miles race eventually placing 1^st, 2^nd and 4^threspectively.

At a recent North Yorkshire & South Durham cross country league (10/1/15) Lee Van Haeften placed an excellent 2^nd whilst competing as a guest runner. This was a particularly encouraging result as Van Haeften missed out on his regular training programme in the latter stages of 2014 due to injury.  Mark Dooley was first finisher in the Isle of Man senior cross country championship at Ballannette on Sunday (18/1/15). However he did not qualify for the championship title due to a residency rule. Dooley (35.32) won out on a fine race duel with local favourite Alan Corlett (35.37) of Manx Harriers.

Results in brief:

Business Houses AA 5 mile Cross Country race at Cherryfield Park (17/1/15): 1^st Eric Keogh (26.57); 2^ndMichael McMahon (27.17); 4^th Colm O‘Connell (27.41); 80^th Tom Fagan M45 (32.57); 81^st Ian Redican M40 (32.57); 146^th Des Gill M45 (37.51); 162^nd Terry Mee M70 (39.50); 171^st Joseph Maguire M75 (41.45); 173^rdTommy Halton M55 (42.08)

North Yorkshire & South Durham XC League at Hartlepool (10/1/15): 2^nd Lee Van Haeften (30.42) guest runner

Isle of Man Cross Country championship at Ballannette (18/1/15): 1^st Mark Dooley (35. 32) ineligible for title

Hartstown 5km Parkrun (17/1/15): Michele Murphy F50 (28.02)

Naas 5km Parkrun (17/1/15): 33^rd Marc Gibbs M45 (24.50)

JUVENILE REPORT

At the National Indoor Combined Events at the Athlone Arena on Saturday (17/1/15) Kolade Abiodun placed an excellent 3^rd in the Boys under 16s competition whilst Lara O‘Byrne finished in 4^th spot in the Girls under 16s. Kolade, who recently received the Dublin juvenile athlete of the year award for 2014, opened his account with a PB of 8.89s in the 60m Hurdles despite being impeded due to a mid-race tumble by a competitor. A 1.58m High Jump and a 9.61m Shot Putt kept Kolade in contention for a medal. Next came the Long Jump and his best effort of 5.38m consolidated his bronze medal placing. Kolade finished off his day with a hugely impressive 2.20.6 in the 800m. His final tally of 2953 points put him clear in 3^rd position behind winner David Ryan of Moycarkey Coolcroo AC (3426) and runner-up Tony Odubote of Ennis Track AC (2985).

Lara O’Byrne, a committed young athlete also coached by Ray O’Keeffe and Liam Brennan, gave a very encouraging early season performance when placing 4^th in the Girls under 16s category. Her figures included: 9.96 in the 60m Hurdles; 1.56m in the High Jump; 8.42m in the Shot Putt; 4.43m in the Long Jump; and 2.42.6 in the 800m earned her 2790 points – just 109 short of a medal place.

At the Naas 5km Parkrun (17/1/15) under 18s athlete Michael Gibbs placed 2^nd overall in the time of 18.56, whilst 15 years-old Lucy McCann (21.39) was the first female finisher when placing 13^th overall.

A small number of Donore athletes competed for their respective schools in the DCU Invitational schools cross country races on Wednesday 14^th January with Niamh O’Neill impressing in the Senior Girls race by placing an excellent 5^th in the colours of Castleknock Community College.

Results in brief:

National Indoor Combined Events at Athlone (17/1/15) o

Boys under 16s Kolade Abiodun

Girsl under 16s Lara O’Byrne

Naas 5km Parkrun (17/1/15): 2^nd Michael Gibbs u/18s (18.46); 13^th / 1^st female Lucy McCann u/17s (21.39)