Galway's young athletes led the way at the National Juvenile Cross Country Relays and Intermediate Cross Country at the Palace Grounds in Tuam on Sunday.
Galway City Harriers’ girls were on the podium in the competitive and exciting juvenile interclub relays, with gold and bronze medals.
The U14 team of Gillian McGrath, Ciara Dunne, Eimear Rowe and Emma Moore produced a great display of team running, with anchor leg Moore finishing with an incredible run to move from third to first in the last 500m. The GCH U12 girls' team of Ava McKeon, Isabella Burke, Leana Nic Dhonncha and Aoibhe Joyce secured a superb bronze in their event.
Galway county men’s team won bronze medals in a high quality men’s intermediate championships over a testing 8km circuit. The team was led home by Andrew O Donnghaile of GCH in a fine 11th spot, followed by Michael Flanagan of Tuam AC with an impressive run in 36th, Sean Burke of Tuam in 41st, Lonan O Farrell of Castlegar AC 42nd, Paul Kearney of Tuam 45th, and Brian O'Connor of GCH in 47th, ensuring the bronze medal position for the squad. Tuam AC were ninth in the clubs' section, with GCH 10th and Castlegar 12th.
There was disappointment for the Galway ladies' squad, which just missed out on the podium, placing fourth county team in the women's intermediate race over 5km. They were led home by Eilis Ni Dhuill of GCH in 20th, followed by Clonliffe’s Tara Whyte in 25th, Jean O'Connor, of GCH in 28th, and Mags Sheridan, also GCH, in 38th, while in the club event GCH placed sixth team, and Tuam AC were eighth club, led home by Anne Hession in 31st place
National Combined Events
Conor Hoade of Craughwell AC won silver in the U14 boys with a great performance in the National Indoor Combined Events in Athlone last weekend.
Competing across five track and field disciplines, Hoade scored a whopping 2,358 points to take silver. Ryan McNelis of Athenry AC impressed, placing fourth in the youth men’s event, as did his clubmate Patrick Woleniuk, also placing fourth in the junior men, while Ellie Cronin of Craughwell AC finished a fine seventh in the U15 girls, and Peggy Higgins of Corofin AC continued to impress when winning the Masters Ladies' over 50 gold.
International Athletics
Aisling Joyce of NUIG competed on the victorious U20 Women’s Irish squad at the Celtic International Cross Country meet in Cardiff, Wales, at the weekend. The event featured teams from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales at U17, 20 and 23 level across a series of races. In a solid performance, Joyce placed 19th overall on a strong Irish team.
Fixtures
The Coldwood four mile road race takes place Sunday January 29 at 12 noon, and is a fundraiser for the local school. All welcome, including walkers, and there are cash prizes for the winners. Entry is €15 .
