The National Even Ages Juveniles and National Senior Cross Country Championships were held in Templemore Sports Centre, Derry last Sunday, November 23.
It proved a successful championship for Galway athletes despite very muddy conditions and constant rain. At Senior level, the event was a qualifier for next month’s European Cross Country Championships in Portugal and a stacked field full of internationals such as Nick Griggs, Efrem Gidey, Cormac Dalton, Darragh McIlhenny and Brian Fay produced an epic battle. Fay just won it out on the finishing straight with a last gasp sprint for victory.
The best of the Galway athletes was U23 Oisin Davis, in 25th place, leading Craughwell to 9th place club team overall. Clubmate William Fitzgerald finished in 37th and Jack Miskella and Jordan Walsh were the club's scorers, with Anthony Boyle next home among others. Galway City Harriers also fielded a strong Senior Men’s team led home by Feidhlim McGowan. Castlegar AC also featured, they were led home by Elix Sundberg and Rupert Claisse.
In the Ladies event, Fiona Everard, University of Galway alumni and with Bandon AC, produced a masterclass of cross country running. She bided her time early on before storming to victory by some distance with a great last two laps.
At Juvenile level, Galway enjoyed individual and county medal success. A fantastic David Frazer silver medal win in the U16 Boys race was the highlight for Craughwell AC. Frazer moved from fourth to second late on, and as an added bonus he qualifies for the Celtic Cross Country event next February at the famous Parliament Hill, near London.
Tuam AC athlete Darragh Steede had the race on his life when he finished in fifth place in the U12 race at the All-Ireland Cross Country Championships. The Galway and Connacht Champion ran with the leaders throughout the race before showing strength and resilience to finish in fifth out of 176 starters.
Steede led the Galway team to the bronze medals behind Clare and Dublin and the Connacht team to third in the provincial competition. He was backed up by Castlegar duo Ciaran Casey and Adam Faraj Gheziel, Athenry’s Shane Higgins and Eoghan Shrayne, and Ryan Byrne of East Galway AC on the Galway team.
Niamh McWalter of Tuam had another outstanding race in the U18 race finishing in 24th position and led the Galway team home in sixth place.
At U12 Boys club level, Castlegar AC finished sixth overall via the squad of Ciaran Casey who led the team home in 24th position. Adam Faraj Gheziel was next in 31st position a fine run. Conor Deeth improved on his last All-Ireland run with a brilliant 84th place, and Adam Carr was next over the line in 85th. Athenry's quartet of Shane Higgins, Eoghan Shryane, Cian Casserly and Tadhg Delmer delivered an 11th place club team finish.
Galway City Harriers had two medallists, with Oisin Maher placing 12th overall in the U18 and Elliana Magnetti taking a bronze team medal as the second highest scoring Connacht runner and 18th overall. Caitlin Mulkerrins of South Galway and Leah O'Toole of Craughwell also scored on the Connacht team at U12.
At U14 Girls, Roisin Fogarty medalled on the Connacht team for South Galway, as did Calum Deeth for Castlegar at U14 Boys level
The Galway U18 Boys squad won silver with Oisin Maher of GCH leading the way in 12th spot, with Athenry’s Rian Collins second Galway athlete home, backed up by Luke Walsh of South Galway and Craughwell's Declan O'Connell and Cathal Gallagher, with Sean Danker of GCH the sixth scorer.
The Galway U20 Men’s team also medalled with Mathys Bocquet first home in 23rd spot.
Next up is the National Novices Championships along with the Uneven Ages Juvenile events on December 7 in Dublin.
