Win for Fia de Paor at 123.ie East Munster Schools Cross Country Championships.
The 2023 East Munster Schools Cross Country was held at SETU Sports Campus in Carriganore on Friday February 3rd and all the local schools competed successfully at the event. Over 600 athletes from schools in Waterford and Tipperary competed on the day and there was stiff competition across all eight races. Carriganore is well known as a tough cross country course with lots of hills to negotiate so pacing yourself well in the race is very important.
First in action were the minor girls with a field of ninety four athletes taking part. West Waterford’s Isabelle Gaffney was competing in the colours of St Augustine’s and crossed the line in 4th place and led the St Augustine’s team to 1st place in the team race.
Next up were the minor boys. This was the biggest race of the day with 121 athletes competing. Oisin Whelan West Waterford and St Augustine’s put in a strong performance to finish in 2nd place and lead St Augustine’s to first place in the team event.
In the junior girls event Charlotte Norman St Catherine’s AC and Blackwater CS finished in 2nd place and led her team to 4th place in the team results.
Noah Commins West Waterford competing for St Augustine’s ran strongly in the junior boys event to finish 2nd behind Kevin Finn of Nenagh CBS and the St Augustine’s teamed finished in 3rd place.
In the Inter girls race Fia de Paor West Waterford and St Augustine’s showed she had the match of anything Waterford and Tipperary had to offer with a well judged run that say her cross the line first to take the individual title. She was backed up by two more West Waterford athletes Sarah o’Riordan 13th and Lauren Cliffe 15th and the trio combined to finish 2nd in the team race behind Abbey CCand the Ard Scoil girls team finished 4th.
In a very competitive and hard fought Inter Boys event Naoise Mac Mhurchadha West Waterford and Meanscoil san Nioclas finished third behind Diarmuid Moloney Nenagh CBS and Daire O’Connell Cashel CS and Dungarvan CBS finished 2nd in the team race.
In the senior girls race Grainne Moore West Waterford and St Augustine’s finished in 7th place and the Caoimhe Prendergast 9th led the Ard Scoil team to 4th place.
With the top 15 finisher and 4 teams in each age group qualifying for the Munster Championship there will be plenty to cheer about for the local schools.
Many thanks to all the officials from West Waterford, Waterford and Tramore AC who gave of their time to ensure the smooth running of the event.
123.ie Munster Schools Cross Country Championships on Fri 24th in Carriganore
Carriganore will again be the venue for the Munster Schools Cross Country Championships on Friday 24thn February starting at 12.30
We will be putting up the course on Wed @1.30 and all help is welcome.
If anyone is free to help with stewarding the event on Friday please contact Mary Ashe.
