The Munster  Juvenile Cross Country Development and Munster Master Championships took place in Beaufort, Co.Kerry today and all athletes competing were treated to a great course in a very picturesque Kerry setting. The event was being hosted by Star of Luane AC in conjunction with the Kerry County Athletics Board.  We’ve competed at this same course last year so most of athletes knew that the course was run over a fast flat course with a lovely mountain back drop. The overcast but dry and fresh day provided excellent running conditions.
 
The Girls U9 team of Maeve Kelly, Aoibheann Cotter and twin sisters Aisling and Kate O’Connor. All four girls raced the 750 m loop with great determination and were well rewarded by taking the 1st Munster club prize. This is the first Munster medals for this group of girls so well done. Maeve and Aisling won individual medals by finishing in 5th and 11th place. Maeve, Aisling and Kate also scored on the Cork team helping the county win Gold.
 
The rest of the juvenile races for the day were left to he boys in the club to challenge. The Boys U11 team of Ruairi Harrington, Mark Collins, Max Hallahan, Luke Quinlan, Jacob O’Driscoll and Callum McCourt were next up for the club and they had a 1000m loop course to complete. The race was went off fast form the start and race positions continued to change throughout the race – all boys ran really well to earn themselves the well deserved Munster club winning title. Luke(5th), Callum(6th) and Mark(10th)  won individual medals and also scored on the Cork team helping them to win Gold.
 
Fionn Harrington and Andrew O’Leary competed up and age in the U13 boy’s race and they had to run over 1500m loop course which took the athletes out over the second field.  Andrew ran a very strong race and should be very happy with his placing. Fionn who recently competed in U12 National Championships finished in 11th place today earning himself an individual medal and was also the 6th Cork scorer helping the county team win Gold.
 
David Laffan, Fiachra Harrington and Owen McCarthy competed in the Boys U17 race over a 3000m course. All 3 lads ran great races today and with David (8th) , Owen (10th) and Fiachra (13th). David and Owen won individual medals and also scored on the Cork team winning Gold. Fiachra was very unlucky to miss out on 12th place, he set the pace for the entire race with the Carrig Nabhfear athlete in pursuit and just missed on the final sprint to the finish. The boys U19 team of Alan Cremin, Adam Casey, Killian McSweeney and Ciaran Murphy had a 4000m course to complete. Ciaran and Adam challenged one another stride for stride for the first 3000m but with 1000m to go Ciaran pushed on to take the Munster title with Adam finishing in 2nd and Killian in 3rd. Alan had a great run today and was a crucial member of the team helping the club win the Munster title. All four lads also helped to ensure that Cork won the Munster title.
 
Carmel Crowley competed in the Women’s Masters and she battled from the start for the lead position and ran a great race to finish in second place. She did however win the O45 section of the race. Tom Laffan also competed in the means masters race and with the much appreciated vocal support from fellow club supporters he had a very enjoyable run.
 
Well done to all today.
Report by Tom Laffan. Pictures by Tom and Finbarr Harrington