Thomas McStay of Galway City Harriers travels to Turin, Italy this weekend to compete as part of a strong Irish U23 team at the European Cross-Country Championships.
McStay will be joined by national champion Darragh McIlhenny, Keelan Kilreehil, Shay McEvoy, Efrem Gidey and Jamie Battle in this talented squad which, as the reigning champions, is aiming for medals again.
The Irish squads will be managed by two Galway men, Paul McNamara and Matt Lockett, and all eyes will be on the six-race card which starts from 9.30am local time on Sunday.
National Cross Country
Galway athletes secured silveware on the final weekend of the National Cross Country for 2022 which featured the national novices and the uneven ages juvenile events.
Held on a testing cross country course in Conna, in East Cork, on Sunday, the standout run of the day was produced by University of Galway athlete Fiona Everard of Bandon AC.
Everard won the women's event over 4km with a superb and dominant display, breaking away early from the lead group to storm to a popular victory. Coached by Matt Lockett, she has returned to her best this year and has a bright future.
Craughwell AC men’s squad once again delivered, with a national silver team medal from the great combined efforts of William Fitzgerald, Paddy Noonan, Jack Miskella and Kyle Moorhead, with team manager and talisman Mark Davis racing home as fifth man. GCH, despite losing a couple of athletes on the day, scored a solid sixth spot, via John Moroney, Cian Coyne, David Carter, and Conor Byrne.
However, it was Abbas Edris of Castlegar who was the first Galway man home in ninth place with a return to his best form, leading Galway County to second county squad overall in the process, with the Craughwell quartet and John Moroney joining him as scorers.
GCH women stepped up to the mark once again and placed fifth team overall. The squad were led home by Aine O'Farrell in 24th, backed up by Anna McGinley, Eimear O'Leary and Niamh Hennelly as scorers, with next home Olive Gleeson and Deirdre McCrae.
At juvenile level, Alan Hallinan was the star of the show, winning the U13 race for Craughwell with an amazing finish up the long drag to the line. Clubmate Declan O'Connell had a brave run to take bronze in the U15 race.
In the team events, Tuam AC won an historic team gold at U13 level, with the squad of Eimear Fallon, Ruby McGuire, Rachel Treacy, Orla Newell, Roisin Steede Duffy and Cuisle O'Callaghan securing gold for the resurgent club. Craughwell U15 boys also secured gold via the quartet of Declan O Connell, Stephen Joyce, Stephen Ruane and Keelan Moorhead .
Clare River Harriers took bronze in the U11 girls' event via Aoibhe Daly, Elise Day, Aoibhinn Burke, Kieva Kelly, Eve Shanahan and Ella Crowley, a just reward after a long season of endeavour.
