A beautiful day for cross country in Cahersiveen as the novice athletes faced the starter at 11am. Novice is open to all over 19 who have not recently won medals at senior or intermediate level.
St Brendan's AC had a women's and men's team involved for the first time in years. The women's 4K started with a rush and Áine McKenna led the St Brendan's AC charge in the hilly giving terrain and positioned herself close to the front of the action. Then Marian McElligott drew alongside and subsequently pulled away to lead the St Brendan's AC women home, well up in the competitive field. Áine settled in well to follow Marian home and then our newest athlete Valentina Tyhonenko finished the course in a good position to ensure historic bronze team medals for the club..
The novice men headed off on their 6K course at the same time and Tom McCarthy led the St Brendan's AC charge in a good position in the leading group of ten. David Kissane was second St Brendan's AC athlete for a few kilometres but then our other new county athlete, Jim O'Meara moved up into a good position in the flying field. Tom McCarthy had a tremendous battle with an athlete some years his junior over the last 100m but while the St Brendan's AC man had to give way, the points accumulated were enough to lead the club home to magnificent team silver medals. Jim followed for his first county cross country medal while Darren Kenny improved as the race came to its conclusion. David Kissane struggled on to finish the team account and get his first novice medal in 50 years!
And now David Butler gives his report on another good day for the St Brendan's AC juveniles.
It was a sunny day in South Kerry as St Brendan’s athletes competed on Day 2 of the county championships in Cahersiveen. On the 1000m lap course, overlooked by Cnoc an Tobar and nestled on the outskirts of the town beside the mouth of the River Fearta, there was plenty of action to see and success for our athletes.
In the first juvenile race, a large field of 40 athletes lined up and then raced off at a great pace. For many in this age group, it was their first time running a cross country race. Finishing strongly over the last 50m, Éabha Cowan was the first St. Brendan’s athlete home, coming in 6th place and winning a bronze medal. Lilly Mai Scanlon, with her trademark strong run, followed just outside the top 10, and Holly O’Driscoll finished a few places behind, marking a good outing for our trio of U10s.
In the boys' race, we had five U10 athletes take to the course in another fast race. Not long after the athletes disappeared from view on the 1K loop, they were soon back on the charge to the finish line. James Sheehy, running out of age, was the first club man home, finishing in 5th place and earning a bronze medal. His teammates Dara O’Connell, Brandon Scanlon, Harrison Cahill, and Liam O’Driscoll finished well up in the positions, earning the boys a silver medal in the team category.
Next up were the U12 girls, who would take on two laps of the course. Plenty of nerves for all at the start but that settled quickly for all. Aisling O’Driscoll, Einin Lawlor, and Millie Flavin lined up and took off at a fast pace up the pull at the start. Running well after the first lap Aisling was in the medal positions and held her place throughout that second lap to finish in 4th place. Next home for the club were Millie and Einin, both with good runs finished in the midfield positions as they also ran out of age.
The U12 boys' race was quickly ready to go in this efficiently run event. After the first lap, the field had spread out somewhat, but there was a grouping of Iveragh and St Brendan’s athletes together at the front. In the final sprint, seven runners were vying for six medal positions, and Jack Sheehy secured 3rd place, with Cody McKenna finishing 5th. Conor Slattery was the next club athlete home, finishing in the top half of the field, with Daniel Collins also finishing strongly to secure a silver team medal for the boys. Great effort from a team that saw Jack and Daniel running out of age.
Our U14 boys were keen to get their race underway, completing some last-minute warm-ups and strides. After witnessing the earlier success of their clubmates, they had a job to do. For them, it was three laps of the course—a mental battle as much as a physical one. Sean Collins set a strong pace, followed closely by John McCarthy. Oisin Fletcher and Matthew Cahill both pushed each other over the three laps, and their reward at the end was a bronze team medal.
The final race of the day saw the U18s line up for their 4500m race, with Zach Walshe representing the club. A tactical battle over the two laps saw the leading group of four reduce to three. Sticking with the leading group until the last lap, a small gap opened up on the hill, dropping Zach back to 3rd. He held that position to the finish, earning a bronze medal and adding to his bronze from the U20 race last weekend.
That wrapped up the club action for the day. Thanks, as ever, to the parents and coaches for bringing the athletes to the event and supporting them and thanks to Kerry Athletics and Iveragh AC for hosting a very enjoyable event. Well done to all the runners today.
