Galway clubs claimed two national titles at the National Cross Country Relays, held at the National Sports Campus in Abbottstown last Sunday, October 18.
Galway City Harriers won the U13 girls’ 4x500m relay, while Castlegar AC took gold in the U11 girls’ relay, as both squads excelling amid high quality competition.
In the first race of the day Castlegar AC’s U11 girls won by two seconds over last year’s national champions Mullingar. Amelia Farragher ran a strong first leg to keep the club in medal position after a fast start. Zara Casserly closed the gap to the leader with a strong second leg run, and Cassie Healy cut Mullingar Harriers’ lead to just five metres. On the final leg, Hana Gheziel Faraj powered past to clinch gold for Castlegar. Team manager Stephen Casserly and his charges secured the first ever Cross Country relay gold for the club on a historic day.
It wasn’t a long wait for the second Galway gold of the day, as the GCH U13 Girls team secured victory. The quartet were led off by Elliana Magnetti, who reached the first changeover of the race in a share of the lead, with several teams bunched. Katie McGlynn strengthened GCH’s position with a strong run up the steeper of the two big hills, opening clear daylight between the top two and the rest before handing over to her sister, Matilda McGlynn, who held on well as the top three stretched their advantage. On the anchor leg, Maneli Fazeli raced hard against a Leevale athlete, but emerged from the final bend in the lead and extended it on the uphill finish to cross the line in first and win team gold by a four-second winning margin. Squad members Thea Lynch and Ailbhe Graham and lead coach Anita McGlynn and the finishing quartet were understandably thrilled with a super all-round performance.
The GCH U11 boys’ team of Donagh Chapple, Rian McDermott, Adam Browne and James Langan just missed out on a medal in fourth place. Donagh Chapple kept the team in touch with the leading three on the first leg, Rian McDermott and Adam Browne held that position, and James Langan closed on third but came up just short. The GCH U11 girls of Moya Coakley, Millie Conboy, Anna Kate Fitzmaurice and Sadhbh Bohan finished 14th at their first national cross country event.
Castlegar travelled in great numbers with four teams. In the U13 boys event, Tiernan Dilleen, and Matthew Casserly, in his first national cross country relay, passed to Charlie Gibbons, and Sam McNally as they brought the team home 15th overall.
The club’s U14 mixed relay team finished 11th. Connacht sprint champion Ciara Murphy ran the first leg, Felix Stapleton gained at least six places, Fia Ní Chonail ran strongly throughout and Ciaran Casey made up significant ground on the final leg.
Castlegar’s U15 boys ran a longer 4x1km course and finished seventh. William Duggan ran the first leg, Calum Deeth made up significant ground on the second, with third leg runner Cillian O’Neill handing over in seventh place to Paddy Leonard, who held that position to the finish.
Also, for Galway, Athenry AC’s U13 boys, including Connacht cross country champion Ryan Byrne, finished sixth of 18 teams.
National Schools Indoor Combined Events
Athenry Juvenile AC’s Harry Melia and Noah Brady both reached the podium at the All-Ireland Secondary Schools (SAA ) Indoor Combined Events Championships.
Competing in long jump, shot putt, 200m and 800m, the pair set three new personal bests between them. Noah Brady was first overall in Ireland in the First Year Boys category, and Harry Melia was third overall in the Junior Boys category.
Autumn Open Cross Country
The Autumn Open Cross Country, incorporating the Masters Cross Country trials, was held alongside the Juvenile Relays in Abbotstown last Sunday as Ireland’s top masters’ athletes competed for places on the team for the Home Internationals in November.
In the men’s race, William Fitzgerald of Craughwell AC finished just one second behind winner Tony McCambridge of Candor Track Club. Fitzgerald was always in the lead pack and took the lead on the home straight but was caught by the Northern athlete in the closing stages. Nevertheless, it was a strong run ahead of the national championships next month
Four Galway Juniors finished in the top 20 in the U20 6km race. South Galway’s Luke Walsh was best in fifth, one place ahead of Athenry’s Rian Collins, with David Frazer of Craughwell AC in 15th and Ciaran Considine of South Galway AC 18th.
Among the Masters chasing selection, Martin McEvilly of GCH won the V75 category, and clubmate Nora Tierney was second in the Ladies V35 section. Both will qualify for the Home International in Dublin on November 14.
Dublin Marathon
The 2026 National Marathon Championships will be held in conjunction with the Irish Life Dublin Marathon on Sunday, October 25, with national honours on the line over 26.2 miles.
Hundreds of Galway club athletes will travel to the capital for what is always a great day out with over 20,000 expected to race. Galway athletes do have national medal opportunities, notably GCH ladies team including the likes of former national team medal winner Siobhan Egan, Liz Maher and Julie Bradshaw.
Fixtures
The second day of Connacht Cross Country featuring the Juvenile Even Ages Championships and Senior League, will be held next Sunday, October 25, at Roscommon Racecourse (F42 V052 ), hosted by Roscommon County Board.
Races begin with the U10 girls at 11am.
