𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐁 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭

 

Text by David Butler. Photos by David Butler & Mags McKenna

Cork Athletics Cross Country grounds in Slieveroe Riverstick is a drone free zone due to being on the flight path to Cork Airport but it was far from a medal free zone for St Brendan’s juvenile athletes today.

Hollie McKenna started off Super Sunday with a great run in the U9 girls 750m where she placed 22nd overall and was the second Kerry athlete across the line. Combining her results with her county mates from Kenmare and Tralee Harriers the girls won a bronze county medal. An excellent achievement for these girls to win a Munster medal in their first year of athletics.

James Sheehy who started off fast in the U11 boys 1000m race to get into a great position in the lead group. With 128 boys running in this race and James stepping up from his U10 age group this was not going to be an easy run but James kept pushing the whole way through the race and crossed the line in 5th place to win a bronze medal. James was the first Kerry athlete across the line with the county team placing 4th.

After watching his clubmates races Cody McKenna toed the line in the U13 boys 1500m race. Cody used his trademark speed right from the off to get to the front of the race over the first 100m. He kept his position throughout and delivered an outstanding run to lead the pack of 77 boys around the undulating leg sapping course. Pushing all the way up the same final climb as Hollie and James before him Cody finished strong and in his case to win the gold medal for 1st place. Cody was followed soon after by a large contingent of Kerry athletes and combined together with the scores from the boys from Iveragh and Star of the Laune the boys won a silver medal for the county.

Congratulations to our trio on their excellent performances and to all Kerry athletes on the day. Thanks to the parents for bringing them to represent the club and thanks to our coaching team for preparing the athletes and supporting them on the day.

Munster Juvenile Uneven Ages Cross Country Championships 2025 Report

 

Text by David Butler. Photos by David Butler, Mags McKenna, Gary Scanlon

Zach Walshe won a bronze medal for his 10th place finish in the U19 boys 5000m race. Zach made his debut for his club 10 years ago and has gone from strength to strength every year. Winning that elusive Munster A cross country medal in his last year as a juvenile athlete before moving to the senior races was a great reward for him.

Brandon Scanlon raced in the U11 boys 1500m and won a bronze medal as part of the Kerry county team as they placed 3rd in the race. In the individual race he placed 34 out of a huge field of 155 runners. This was Brandon’s first time racing at Munster Cross Country and he has qualified to Nationals with the Kerry county team, scheduled for Sunday Dec 7th in Abbotstown, Dublin.

Our youngest athletes on the day were Grace Winter, Hollie McKenna & Lauren Scanlon also making their Munster Cross Country debuts in U9 girls 750m race. Big numbers in this race with 121 finishers but the girls did fantastic and gained great experience from it all. Grace (48th) was the first of our trio across the line with Hollie (77th) and then Lauren (93rd). Grace and Hollie both scored on the Kerry county team that placed 5th.

Cody McKenna and Jack Sheehy had strong performances in the U13 boys 2500m race with both boys scoring on the Kerry county team that placed 4th. The boys gained many places throughout the races and finished well up the individual placings with Cody in 19th and Jack 26th out of 121 finishers.