DONEGAL athletics coach Teresa McDaid declared her delight today after she mentored the Irish women’s team to the European Cross Country title.
And there was a double gold celebration as Fionnuala Britton successfully retained her individual European Cross Country title with a brilliant run in Budapest on Sunday.
It was an incredible day for Irish athletics as Britton led the senior women who included Linda Byrne, Ava Hutchinson, Lizzie Lee, Sarah Louise Treacy and Sarah McCormack to team gold.
Britton has been in excellent form this autumn and she confirmed it over the course in Skanzen. She put on a tremendous display of tenacious front running as she romped to a two second victory over Dulce Felix of Portugal.
The diminutive Wicklow women was to the fore of the field from the outset and pushed the pace ferociously throughout. With two kilometres to go the race was between Britton and Belgium’s Almensch Belete.
However both Felix and Adrianne Herzog of the Netherlands were starting to make an impression on the leaders.
Britton lifted her game once again and propelled herself over the finishing line to take the title in a time of 27:45, ahead of second place Felix 27:47 with Herzog rounding out the top three in third.
Linda Byrne was having the race of her life as she stormed to an eight place finish and was followed home by Ava Hutchinson in 20th, Lizzie Lee in 23rd, Sarah McCormack in 36th and Sarah Louise Treacy in 42nd.
The team combined brilliantly to claim the team gold medals with a score of 52 points. Coincidentally the Irish team’s score of 52 was the same as France, however Ireland were awarded the title on count back.
The team was coached by Letterkenny woman and Athletics Ireland coach Teresa McDaid.
“It was an incredible day,” said the Donegal woman.
“The girls were tremendous and Fionnuala was just outstanding, defending her title in such a way.
“It was very tense in the end because we were tied with France and to get it on the countback was so exciting.”
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