The 2011 AVIVA Irish Schools Cross Country was held in the National Aquatic Centre, Abbotstown, Dublin on saturday March 12th 2011. The Flat course provided great underfoot conditions which set the tone for a fast series of races.
The Introduction of the Minor age group produced some fine performances from a field of mainly first year competitors. In the girls race Nadia El-Tom Power (St. Macdara's Community College) had a strong finish to win from Clodagh O'Reilly (Loreto College Cavan) and Laura Costello (Ursuline Thurles), with Ursuline Thurles winning the team from St. Macdara's.Daniel Gallagher (St. Catherine's Killybegs) was another to produce a strong finish to win the minor boys race from William Hynes (St. Attracta's Tubbercurry) and Luke Dinsmore (Coleraine AI). Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar won the team from St. Malachy's
The junior boys race produced a close finish with Hugh Morgan (De La Salle Waterford) outpacing Paddy Robb (St. Malachy's) and Shane McGowan (St. Columb's Derry) for a good win. St. Kieran's College won the team from Douglas Community College. In the junior Girls catagory, Ella Fennelly (Mount Anville) produced a strong finish to outsprint her rivals on the flat ground, with Nicole Cuskelly (Killina Secondary School) getting the better of Niamh Cotter (Bantry Community College) for the minor places. Ursuline Thurles won the team from Victoria College Belfast.
In the Intermediate girls race, Siofra Clerigh Buttner ((Colaiste Iosagain) took the lead from the gun and was never in danger of being caught as she raced to a fine win. Linda Conroy (Mercy Kilbeggan) was second with Jean Clancy (St. Michael's Kilmihil) third. Colaiste Iosagain won the team led by Clerigh Buttner from Ballyclare High School. The intermediate boys race provided a closely competitive result.Sean Tobin (High School Clonmel) had to work hard to get away from the persistent challenge of Ian O'Hairtneid (Colaiste Daibhead Corcaigh), opening up a ten second lead towards the finish. Aaron Hanlon (St. Mary's Drogheda) was third. Team victory went to High School Clonmel from St. Fintan's.
The Senior Boys and Girls races, traditionally an early indicator of emerging talent in Irish Athletics was no exception to preceding displays of athletic prowess.
When Shane Quinn (De La Salle Waterford) took over the lead Kevin Dooney (CBC Monkstown) was the only one to go with him. However, Quinn was on his own after a couple of hundred metres and he coasted to another fine win at national level to provide the perfect preparation for the World cross country championships next weekend. Dooney held on to second with Liam Brady (St. Brendan's Birr) third. Douglas Community School won the team contest by one point from St. Malachy's.
The outcome of the senior girls race was much closer with Amy O'Donoghue (Villiers School Limerick) outsprinting Maire Aine Ni Shuilleabhain (Gaelscoil Ceatharlach) in the closing stages. Megan Ni Iosagain) was third. Colaiste Iosagain won the team contest from Rathmore Grammar.
The closest finish of the day came in the Universities women's race. A breakaway group of four -- Becky Woods, Bryony Treston, Ciara Durkin and Laura Shaughnessy - dominated the race, but that was down to two turning into the finishing straight. An all out sprint saw Ciara Durkin (DCU) just edge ahead on the line to win from Bryony Treston (TCD) with Becky Woods (TCD) third. DCU won the team from TCD.
Dan Mulhare (WIT) was never challenged as he romped home to win the Universities men's race, with Liam Reale (UL) outsprinting Brendan O'Neill (DCU) for the minor places. DCU were team winners from WIT
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Schools Cross Country Pt4by Irishschools2011794 views
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