Report & Pics by Tom Laffan.
The Even age National Championships took place on Sunday November 25th in Tattersalls, Ratoath, Co. Meath. The athletes were treated to excellent facilities in the lovely grounds of Tattersals. Due to the recent heavy rain conditions were always going to be difficult and while the course was relatively flat the soft ground made for difficult and challenging running conditions. We had 21 club athletes representing their Club, County and Province at this National Championships.
In the senior women’s race Carmel Crowley ran a great race to finish in 31st place and was the 4th scoring runner on the Cork team helping them to take second County team place. In the junior men’s race Mark O’Sullivan had a very impressive run to finish in 11th place. He was the 1st Cork runner to over the line and he helped ensure that Cork took second team place.
The juvenile races started with the Girls u12 event and our team of Andrea O’Brien, Ella Stack, Michelle O’Donovan, Grainne Mulcahy, Lauren McCourt and Aisling Cassidy ran very well to take 7th club team place. Grainne Mulcahy finished in 21st place and earned herself a national medal helping the Cork team to win silver in the County team places. In the Boys U12 race Brian Howey and Darragh Keane in their 2nd cross country race were competing on the Cork team having qualified from the recent Munster championship. They both ran very well to finish in 75th and 81s t place. The Girls U14 team of Moira Barrett, Laura Nicholson, Aoibh Cassidy, Niamh Munday and Eva Stack all ran great races to take 7th club place. Moira finished in 26th place overall and was the 3rd Cork runner home helping Cork the U14 title. The Girls U16 team of Fiona Everard, Bella Sherlock, Louisa Keane , Sinead Caulfield and Bethany Haigue were next up and they were very unlucky to finish just outside the medal places in 4th place. Fiona Everard competing out of age finished in 9th place and won a well individual medal. In the County team results Fiona , Bethany and Louisa scored on the Cork team and each won a well earned bronze medal. Aisling Everard competing out of age in the Girls U18 race finished in a very strong 21st place and helped the Munster team to win the silver prize.
Thanks to all who supported the athletes on the day and well done to all those who competed.