Week 1
The new athletics season kicked off for our juvenile and junior athletes with the Kerry Athletics Even Ages Cross Country competition. The club was strongly represented with 17 athletics toeing the line. The athlete’s checked in with the coaches at the club gazebo and after warmup the first races started promptly at 10am.
First up was the U10 girls’ race, which included Keeva Kelliher, Roisin Diggins, Lily Mai Scanlon, Amelia Dineen, Leila McCarthy and Einin Lawlor running for St Brendan’s. Every position counts in cross country races and in a field of 30 athletes our girls came through to win a 3rd place bronze team medal for the club. The team was lead home by Keeva Kelliher. A great start to the day and sign of things to come!
Next up was the U10 boys, Jack Sheehy, Fionn Cashell, Daniel Collins and Lucas Neale the quartet who’s scores would be counted for the club. Not found wanted the boys battled their way through the field and came home with a 3rd place bronze medal for the club. Jack Sheehy the first runner home for the club and picked up an individual bronze medal for a top 6 finish.
Hannah Sheehy lined up in the U12 girls race. Hannah who favours the long distance events ran a great race and kept pushing the whole way throughout to keep herself in medal contention. She was unlucky to finish just outside the top 6 medal positions but is looking forward to another race next Sunday.
In the U12 boy’s race, competing for St Brendan’s was Cody McKenna, Corey O’Carroll, Sean Collins and John McCarthy. Just like the races before it this was a very competitive event with every athlete from all clubs giving their best for their team. Corey set the early pace for the club keeping in touch with the top 6 in the first half of the race before Cody took it on to be the first finisher home for the club and the boys combined won another 3rd place bronze medal.
Muireann Lawlor ran out of age in the U14 girls race to get some race practice in ahead of the U13 girl’s race next weekend. A very experienced athlete for the club at county, Munster and National level Muireann ran a composed race and closed off her run with a good turn of pace to finish strongly over the last half a lap.
The final athlete in action for the club on the day was Aaron Horgan who was racing out of age in the U18 boys 5K race. At this point conditions had worsened significantly with driving wind and rain for Aaron to contend with. One of the most experienced cross country runners in the club, Aaron ran a fine race and came home in 5th position overall to win a bronze medal.
Week 2
First in action for St Brendan’s on the day was our U9 girls, Emma O’Flaherty and Lily Mai Scanlon. Both girls gave their very best in the race and finished inside the top 10 but unfortunately just outside the medal positions in 7th and 9th place respectively.
The next St Brendan’s athletics in action were the clubs U10&U11 girls running in one of the larges races of the day in U11 girls 1500m race. Keeva Kelliher was the first St Brendan’s athlete home and with Lacie Boylan, Amelia Dineen, Einin Lawlor and Lelia McCarthy all giving their best on a tough undulated course.
Eager to get into action on the course the U11 boys who were up next to race in their 1500m. The team members were Corey O’Carroll, Cody McKenna, Jack Sheehy, Ross Scanlon and Christiaan van Niekirk. Ross was making his debut for the club today. The boys worked their way through the field to win a 3rd place bronze team medal with Corey the first St Brendan’s runner home.
Hannah Sheehy was back in action today and stepping up an age group to run in the U13 girls 2500m race. An energy sapping course saw Hannah giving everything she had but she with great determination she kept going and finished strong. A trio of boys represented the club in the U13 2500m race with Alex Blackett, Oisin Fletcher & John McCarthy running. The first county cross country race for Alex and Oisin, with John running out of age the boys worked their way around the course and handled the hills very well with Alex the first club runner just outside the top 10.
Kevin Horgan competed in the U15 boys 3500m race. A competitive and tactical race throughout the field, Kevin used his experience and composure to complete his first cross country race of the season.
The boys and girls in U17 4500m races toed the start line together, over the first half of the race saw Zach and Aaron lead the field as a very interested intraclub battle ensued between the pair. Zach opened a gap in the 2nd half of the race and took first place outright for a gold medal with a very strong run. Aaron came away with a 4 th place bronze medal for his run. Caoilinn Kenny O’Sullivan ran a measured race to keep herself in medal contention throughout and showed good strength on the hills to come through with a 6th place bronze medal.
Rian Kenny O’Sullivan was fast off the start line in the U19 5000m race where 5 big laps was the order of the day. Rian was pleased with a 5th place bronze medal for his run.
Masters
After the juvenile races completed it was time for the masters to get into action. First up for the club was David Kissane running in the 4000m race. David “enjoyed” the hills with thoughts of the hill repeats of the Gallán in Kilmoyley to occupy his mind where he went on to secure his first gold medal in the M70 age category.
In the final race of the day the 7000m masters race, fellow patrons to the Gallán hill were Kilmoyley’s John Culloty and Gerald Carroll with Tom McCarthy the Ardfert man in the
middle as the men won a bronze medal in the M50 category. John Culloty won an individual bronze medal in the M50 age category and the team came 3rd in the team race. A great achievement by the three lads.
Week 3
The final events of the county cross country championships took place in Killarney. Thirteen juvenile athletes represented the club in the relays with one senior athlete running in the novice race.
Up first was the U10 girls team in the 4x500m with Keeva Kelliher getting the team into a top 10 on her leg. The baton then passed to Grace McGuckin making her cross country debut today who kept the position. Next up came Amelia Dineen who pushed hard from the off and maintained the team position. Finally then Emma O’Flaherty, running out of age pushed on right to end to take a place and secure a top 10 finish for the team.
Excitement
Next came the boys U10 team with Fionn Cashell getting the boys into 3rd position on the first leg, Conal Ross (making his debut for the club) held the position and Daniel Collins gained a place to get the team into 2nd place just before the final changeover. The excitement was certainly peaking now as Jack Sheehy took off on the final leg. Jack closed the ground on the lead runner and just coming off the final bend that last sprint for home saw Jack take the final place to get the gold medal. At the podium the boys were joined by Lucas Neale who was the extra runner in reserve today supporting his teammates throughout.
Competing for the club in U12 girls race was Katie Butler who was running the first leg. Lacie Boylan took over the baton for the second leg. Hannah Sheehy was the 3rd runner up and with Keely Flaherty finishing strong for the team. Two of the team were running out of age today but still gave their very best for each other and the club.
Trademark Strong Finish
Over to the U12 boys who were eager to go. Corey O’Carroll, first up for the team with a strong leg to see the boys in the top 3. Seán Collins took over then and kept the momentum up for the team. Cody McKenna took over then to increase the gap between the top 3 and rest of the field to keep the team in medal contention. John McCarthy anchored the team home with a trademark strong finish for the boys to win a bronze team medal.
Waiting on the sidelines for the final race of the day and no doubt inspired by his younger clubmates was Darren Kenny. Darren was running his first cross country race for the club in the 6K men’s novice race. With unseasonably warm conditions for cross country, Darren ran a very solid and consistent race throughout, enjoying the challenge of having switched over from his regular road racing to the grass course. The strength gained will stand him in good stead in the year ahead.
Successful County Cross Country season
That closes out a fine season of county cross country competition for the club with many individual medals won and even more team medals. Thanks to all the coaches for preparing the athletes for competition and supporting their efforts on race day. Thanks for the volunteers in all clubs and Kerry Athletics for three excellent days of competitions.
And finally thanks to parents for bringing the athletes to the competition and most especially the athletes for representing Team St Brendan’s.
David Butler
Official results on Kerry Athletics website HERE.
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