The Aviva Irish Schools Cross Country Championships took place in Cork CIT on Saturday March 8th with a number of club members representing their schools.
Naoise Ni Fhaitheartargh running for Hamilton High School competed in the Minor boys race. Naoise ran a very competitive race to finish 24th out of the 124 boys who competed in the minor race. We were represented on the Junior Girls race by Carina Crowley (Sacred Heart, Clonakilty), Clodagh Young, Laura Nicholson, Lilly Carey and Moira Barrett (Bandon Grammar School). All girls ran really well over the challenging 2500m course. Laura led the Grammar School team home to finish in 7th place earning herself a place on the Irish Schools team and helping the team to win the silver medal place. Carina also had a great race to finish in 11th place.
Fiona Everard (Maria Immaculata CC, Dunmanway) and Aoibh Cassidy (Bandon Grammar School) competed in the Intermediate Girls race over 3500m. This was a very competitive race with the girls having to cover two large laps of the CIT course which included a few soft challenging sections. Fiona challenged from the start of the race setting the pace with the other lead runners. Setting the pace with the lead group meant she was always in contention for the top placings and she finished the race in a very strong 3rd place also earning herself a place on the Irish Schools team. Aoibh Cassidy also ran a great race in her first outing at intermediate level.
Louise Keane (Bandon Grammar School) competed in the Senior Girls race where she ran a strong race to finish in 32nd place. Mark OSullivan running for CIT in the Intervarsity Race finished in a very competitive 9th place.
Well done to all who competed and all the best to Fiona and Laura will now go on to represent Ireland in the SIAB Cross Country International in England on the 22nd of March.
Report and photos by Tom Laffan