HIGHLIGHTS: Sorcha & Aislinn Nic Dhomhnaill among the medals in the MANCHESTER ELITE MARATHON. Excellent start by Abdel Laadjel stateside in the NEW ENGLAND INTERCOLLEGIATE XC CHAMPIONSHIPS. DH men’s team 3^rd in the DUBLIN NOVICE XC CHAMPIONSHIPS. Five wins for DH athletes in Fixture 2 of the DUBLIN JUVENILE XC LEAGUE.

 

REPORT: Excellent performances by Donore Harriers athletes in the UK and the USA. Sorcha and Aislinn NicDhomhnaill finished 4^th and 5^th respectively in the MANCHESTER ELITE MARATHON women’s race on Sunday. Sorcha, competing in the marathon for the first time, ran a super 2.46.22 to win a bronze medal as the 3^rd senior – whilst Aislinn (2.48.19) improved on her previous best time set in Dublin two years ago. She took the gold medal in the W40 category. The sisters placed 26^th and 28^th overall.

Abdel Laadjel competed in his first Stateside race on Saturday when he lined up in the NEW ENGLAND INTERCOLLEGIATE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Franklin Park in Boston, MA on Saturday afternoon. He completed the 8km course in 25.08 to place 13^th in a field of 161 finishers. Laadjel was the 2^nd scorer for Providence University Friars that placed 5^th from 24 closing teams. He described his race: “I was 4^th with 500 metres to go but blew up on the last hill. 8 kilometres cross-country is a different game. The course was harder than Abbotstown with a lot of hard gravel and little grass. I am happy with that as my opener”. Abdel is due to compete in the Nuttycombe Invitational XC at Madison, Wisconsin on Friday.

Eric Keogh placed 52^nd from a field of 359 in the recent LOUISVILLE CROSS-COUNTRY CLASSIC in Kentucky (02.10.2021). Eric’s time was 24.24 for the 8km course. He was 2^nd scorer on the Queen’s North Carolina team that came 14^th of 36 closing teams.

Elliot Slade (29.37) also made a return to competition after illness, placing 39^th in the SACREMENTO INVITATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY RACE at Rocklin, California (01.10.2021).

The DUBLIN NOVICE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS were held at Tymon Park on Sunday afternoon. Donore Harriers had 6 athletes line up in the women’s race over 3 laps (4km) on an undulating, but firm course.

Louise Murray (15.36) was first home in 12^th spot. Next came Claire Mulligan (16.54), making a welcome return to competition after an injury lay-off, in 44^th place. The scoring team was completed by Katherine Marsh (17.36) in 58^th and Aisling Kirby (17.44) in 64^th. The team came 6^th of 11, with the non-scoring athletes being Louise Kelly (17.51) in 65^th and Suzie Henleywillis (18.18) in 73^rd.

The men’s team came 3^rd on 81 points, narrowly ahead of Clonliffe Harriers on 84 after the 6km race. There is little doubt that the result switched in favour of Donore Harriers on the 4^th and final lap. Louis O’Loughlin (18.56) moved from 9^th place at the bell to cross the line in 4^th. Second-scorer Kevin O’Boyle (20.26) put in a massive effort to maintain 19^th spot ahead of a chasing group. An improving Daragh Keegan gained several places on the last circuit to finish 26^th in 20.37, with Michael Ryan (20.54) closing the scoring in 32^nd place. Crucially, Ryan finished 5 places in front of Clonliffe’s 4^th man. Next home was newcomer Matthew Fabbro (20.59), who had an encouraging race to cross the line in 34^th. Then came Kevin Nolan (21.15) in 42^nd, Neil Hand (22.04) in 59^th, Peter Brennan (22.45) in 76^th and Gavin White (23.01) in 78^th.

One hundred athletes closed the women’s race and 135 in the men’s contest.

It appears that the Donore Harriers women’s team of Sorcha Loughnane, Anne Curley and Grace Kennedy-Clarke placed 2^nd in the last week’s BELFAST MARATHON, which incorporated the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. However, an announcement from Athletics Ireland following the event said: ‘Due to the limited number of places available to national championship entries (100 men and 100 women), there was only provision to present national senior individual championship titles for 2021’. Thus, the Donore Harriers team will not be presented with championship medals. Nor will medals be given to Sorcha Loughnane and Anne Curley who have claims of being among the top 3 finishers in their respective age-grades. The ruling seems unfair! 490 Athletics Ireland registered men and 233 AI registered women completed the marathon. The athletes were not informed of the decision prior to the event; and the national governing athletics body gave out a full set of medals on the same day for the National Road Relays despite that event clashing with the national marathon which meant some athletes not being available to compete.

In a twitter feed Sorcha Loughnane announced her feelings: “This was my first time competing in any championships for Donore Harriers … as far as I could see, I was in silver position for the W45 category, and it looked like the Donore ladies were in silver medal position behind an incredible North Belfast team and ahead of Brothers Pearse AC. I was absolutely chuffed. Possibly 2 national medals in my first national championships … What doesn’t make sense is when, why or how the national champs would only be for the top 3 finishers…”

In a FB comment Anne Curley praised her team-mate in the aftermath of the race: “I also have to mention Grace Kennedy-Clarke here who finished the marathon in Belfast after getting a knee injury mid race while braking suddenly to avoid a runner colliding with her coming up to a drinks station. Her courage and pain threshold in actually finishing the race is unique. I passed her at 17 miles, and she was struggling bad – just stopping and starting. If we win a team medal it’s down to her resilience, grit and team spirit…” Alas! No team medals!

The club has submitted an objection and the matter will be discussed by the Athletics Ireland competition committee in early November.

The 2^nd fixture of the DUBLIN JUVENILE CROSS-COUNTRY LEAGUE took place in Tymon Park on Sunday morning hosted by Sportsworld AC. The sun came out and there was a feast of good competitive under-age races. Donore Harriers had 5 winners on the day. Annabella Omozee used her sprinting speed to outrun a host of chasers to narrowly win the Under 9 girls race over 900m. In the Under 14 Girls race over 1,500m it was a gun to tape win for Emily Bolton, who finished with 40 metres to spare over her nearest rival. Liam Morris won a thrilling duel with a Lucan Harriers athlete to win the Under 14 Boys race – also over 1.5km. In the same race Liam Blair came 10^th, with Daniel Hughes 16^th and Aaron Callanan in 29^th. The Under 15 Girls race (2km) was dominated by Donore Harriers – with victory going to Lorraine O’Connor ahead of her teammate Eva Crowe. Then came Julie Cleary, returning from injury, in 5^th – followed by Eden Branagan in 11^th, Eleanor Hopkins in 14^th and Hannah Eustace in 29^th. Thomas Bolton made it five wins for the DH team when he won out a duel with a Lucan Harriers athlete in the Under 16 Boys race over 2.5km. Dylan McKenna gained two places in the latter half of the race to gain to 5^th. There were a number of other encouraging performances, not least Lucas Collender who placed 11^th in the Under 15 Boys race over 2km in only his second race – and Rosie-May Morris who raced to 18^th spot in the Under 12 Girls (1.2km). Other top 20 finishers were Anna Whelan 13^th in the Under 10 Girls, Bobby Farrell 15^th in the Under 9 Boys, Alan Maddox 17th in the Under 10 Boys, and Mark Nunan 18^th in the Under 11 Boys. Laura Nunan, an Under 16 athlete, raced in the 2.5km Junior Women’s category against older athletes finishing a very fine 15^th overall. All juvenile results are listed below – as are the results from the 1^st fixture of the XC LEAGUE at Ballyboughal held on the 26^th of September.

Sean Kinsella M15-17 (18.14) was first home in the Waterstown PARKRUN on Saturday morning. His younger brother Joe M11-14 (22.44) came 12^th. Mary McDermott W50 (24.33) came 8^th overall and 3^rd woman at Russborough.

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MANCHESTER ELITE MARATHON (10.10.2021)

26^th, 4^th woman & 3^rd senior Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (2.46.22 PB)

28^th, 5^th woman & 1^st W40 Aislinn Nic Dhomhnaill (2.48.19 PB)

LOUISVILLE CLASSIC CROSS-COUNTRY at Tom Sawyer Park, Louisville (02.10.2021)

MEN’s 8km RACE: 52^nd Eric Keogh (24.24)

355 finishers

SACREMENTO STATE INVITATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY at Rocklin, CA (01.10.2021)

MEN’s 8km RACE: 39^th Elliot Slade (29.37)

NEW ENGLAND INTERCOLLEGIATE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Franklin Park, Boston, MA (09.10.2021)

MEN’s 8km RACE: 13^th Abdel Laadjel (25.08)

161 finishers

DUBLIN NOVICE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Tymon Park (10.10.2021)

WOMEN’S 4km RACE:

12^th Louise Murray (15.36)

44^th Claire Mulligan (16.54)

58^th Katherine Marsh (17.36)

64^th Aisling Kirby (17.44)

65^th Louise Kelly (17.51)

73^rd Suzie Henleywillis (18.18)

100 finishers

TEAM: 1^st Dublin City Harriers (24), 6^th Donore Harriers <Murray, Mulligan, Marsh, Kirby> (178). 11 teams.

MEN’S 6km RACE:

4^th Louis O’Loughlin (18.56)

19^th Kevin O’Boyle (20.26)

26^th Daragh Keegan (20.37)

32^nd Michael Ryan (20.54)

34^th Matthew Fabbro (20.59)

42^nd Kevin Nolan (21.15)

59^th Neil Hand (22.04)

76^th Peter Brennan (22.45)

78^th Gavin White (23.01)

135 finishers

TEAM: 1^st Raheny Shamrocks AC (24), 3^rd Donore Harriers <O’Loughlin, O’Boyle, Keegan & Ryan> (81). 13 teams.

DUBLIN JUVENILE CROSS-COUNTRY LEAGUE 2 at Tymon Park (10.10.2021)

U/9 Girls (500m): 29^th Mae O’Gorman – 55 finishers

U/10 Girls (700m): 13^th Anna Whelan, 37^th Lola Blake, 55^th Ciara Jackson, 57^th Robyn McCluskey, 59^th Lola Nagle Mullaly – 72 finishers

U/11 Girls (900m): 1^st Annabella Omozee, 47^th Siun Costello, 73^rd Tess O’Donohoe – 100 finishers

U/12 Girls (1.2km): 18^th Rosie May Morris, 42^nd Ruby Blake, 47^th Lauren Tolan, 60^th Saoirse Jackson

U/13 Girls (1.2km): 40^th Lily Clarke-Hanrahan

U/14 Girls (1.5km): 1^st Emily Bolton

U/15 Girls (2km): 1^st Lorraine O’Connor, 2^nd Eva Crowe, 5^th Julie Cleary, 11^th Eden Branagan, 14^th Eleanor Hopkins, 29^th Hannah Eustace

U/16 – U/20 Junior Women (2.5km): 15^th Laura Nunan U16 (age category result to follow)

U/9 Boys (500m): 15^th Bobby Farrell, 22^nd Michael McCarthy Jnr, 45^th Alex Murphy – 63 finishers

U/10 Boys (700m): 17^th Alan Maddox, 63^rd Daniel Maddox – 64 finishers

U/11 Boys (900m): 18^th Mark Nunan, 46^th Elliott Reilly, 51^st Max Henleywillis, 61^st Leo Reid – 69 finishers

U/12 Boys (1.2km): 37^th Dylan O’Connor, 43^rd Oisin O’Gorman, 62^nd Sam Inverarity

U/13 Boys (1.2km): 21^st Liam Collins

U/14 Boys (1.5km): 1^st Liam Morris, 10^th Liam Blair, 16^th Daniel Hughes, 29^th Aaron Callanan

U/15 Boys (2km): 11^th Lucas Collender

U/16 Boys (2.km): 1^st Thomas Bolton, 5^th Dylan McKenna

PREVIOUS RESULT

DUBLIN JUVENILE CROSS-COUNTRY LEAGUE 1 at Ballyboughal (26.09.2021)

U/9 Girls (400m): 26^th Mae O’Gorman, 35^th Anna Garry

U/10 Girls (600m): 21^st Anna Whelan, 35^th Lola Blake, 40^th Robyn McCluskey, 45^th Ciara Jackson

U/11 Girls (800m): 8^th Annabella Omozee, 33^rd Florence Zakrezewska, 47^th Sadhbh Hussey, 60^th Tess O’Donohoe

U/12 Girls (1km): 18^th Rosie May Morris, 35^th Ruby Blake, 60^th Saoirse Jackson

U/13 Girls (1km): 48^th Zoe Conroy

U14 Girls (1.2km): 1^st Emily Bolton, 22^nd Abigail Tolan

U/15 Girls (1.5km): 2^nd Lorraine O’Connor, 3^rd Eva Crowe, 9^th Eden Branagan, 12^th Eleanor Hopkins

U/16 Girls (2km): 6^th Laura Nunan

U/9 Boys (400m): 24^th Bobby Farrell, 46^th Alex Murphy, 54^th Michael McCarthy Jnr

U/11 Boys (800m): 9^th Olyver Whelan, 10^th Mark Nunan, 41^st Max Henleywillis

U/12 Boys (1km): 42^nd Oisin O’Gorman, 47^th Sam Inverarity

U/13 Boys (1km): 16^th Eoin Mooney, 19^th Liam Collins

U/14 Boys (1.2km): 3^rd Liam Morris, 11^th Daniel Hughes, 29^th Tadhg O’Baoill

U/15 Boys (1.5km): 8^th Lucas Collender

U/16 Boys (2km): 1^st Thomas Bolton

U/17 Boys (3km): 6^th Oliver Hopkins

PARKRUNS 5km (02.10.21)

WATERSTOWN: 1^st Sean Kinsella M15-17 (18.14 PB), 12^th Joe Kinsella M11-14 (22.44 PB)

RUSSBOROUGH: 8^th & 3^rd woman Mary McDermott W50 (24.33)