Local Athletes Successful at Kit Kat Munster Schools Cross Country
On Thursday last it was off to Tramore for our athletes to take on the best of Munster at the Kit Kat schools cross-country championships. Over one thousand youngsters from all over Munster competed and all six counties were among the medal winners. The racecourse provided a stiff test for those taking part and the long uphill stretch soon sorted out the big fields. The first fifteen finishers in each race and the first three teams qualified for the Kit Kat All Ireland Schools Cross Country.
Kate Veale competing with St. Augustines was first to claim a medal. The longer distance and tough course did not throw Kate off her stride and she went into the lead on the uphill section of the course but from the top of the hill the chase was on as Eileen Kennedy Tipperary and Amy O’Donoghue Limerick worked together to reel back in the lead and overhaul Kate close to the finish as she finished in the bronze medal position.
In the Junior boys Colin Dunford ( Dungarvan C.B.S.) showed he has much promise as a cross country runner finishing in 14th and qualifying for his first All Ireland Championships.
The first team success came in the Intermediate girls event when the Ardscoil team finished second. Edel Roche continues to improve and finished strongly in 9th place. Claire Collins had her best run of late when finishing 15th not far behind was Clodagh Gallagher in 17th. Colleen Whelan continues to make progress and finished 19th and the team was completed by Kate Kennedy in 24th place.
In the Intermediate boys Joe Conway (St. Augustines) made it into the top ten and qualified for the All Ireland, as did Rory Moloney in the Senior Boys event.
In the Senior girls there was a win for Lorraine Mc Carthy and she helped her St. Augustines team mates to third place. They were pushed all the way by the Ardscoil team who finished just one point behind in 4th place. A strong run by Elma Nugent saw her take 8th place and Jenny Hurley just recovering from the flu finished 13th and both qualified for the All Ireland.
At the end of a very successful day Dungarvan schools now have athletes qualified in all six events at the Kit Kat All Ireland Schools which will be held on Saturday March 8th at Dartfield Equestrian Centre Loughrea Co. Galway starting at 12noon.
