DARRAGH Crossan was the winner of the Donegal Novice Cross-Country Championship on Saturday at O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny.
The Raphoe native, who runs with City of Derry Spartans, led from the start for an impressive victory.
Philip McHugh (Letterkenny AC) and Mark Ward (Rosses) took the second and third spots on the podium.
Finn Valley AC’s Karen Gallagher was the leading female, continuing her good form from the previous week when helping University of Limerick to a national team medal.
Milford AC won the men’s team gold by the narrowest of margins from Rosses AC. It was only the second time that Milford have won the Donegal Novice team title and the manner of the win couldn’t have been closer, edging Rosses by a point, 38 to 39.
Milford were led by Kevin Logue in fifth with solid back-up from Barry Coyle, Damien McBride and Anthony Doherty.
Ward was the lead Rosses athlete and supported by Patrick Trimble, Fergal McGee and Manus McHugh.
Lifford-Strabane AC duo Elaine Connor and Linda McGrath were behind Gallagher to lead Lifford-Strabane AC to team gold with Jess Moorehead and Dymphna Houston also scoring.
Three of the quartet scored the previous weekend as Lifford won the Masters team gold.
The uneven ages cross-country races also took place on Saturday at O’Donnell Park.
The day began with a Finn Valley AC double in the form of Shay Irwin and Rhia Toner.
Darcy Clarke (Lifford-Strabane) and Evan Ward (Rosses) won the U11 individual golds with the team crowns going to Letterkenny (boys) and Finn Valley (girls)
Darragh Naughton of Letterkenny AC won the U13 boys race, pipping Odhran Rodgers from Rosses with Finn Valley taking the team gold.
Guest runner Sarah Mulvaney-Kelly led the way in the U13 girls race, ahead of Faela Houston (Rosses) and Holly McNulty (Finn Valley). McNulty led the Finn Valley team to victory.
Cranford AC’s Caolan McFadden continued his excellent form with an impressive win in the U15 boys event, pulling away from Mark Galvin to take the victory. The team gold was won by Finn Valley, just edging Letterkenny by two points.
Anna Russell form Letterkenn AC took the U15 girls race in a real tense battle, seeing off Mia Fletcher of Cranford and Letterkenny AC’s Emma Bonner, with LAC taking the team title.
Cranford’s Clodagh Neely took the U17 gold and led her team to victory with the U17 boys gold going to Letterkenny AC’s Philip McGee, who also won the U16 race the weekend before.
It was a Finn Valley AC 1-2-3 in the U19 race with Sean McGinley, Oisin Toye and Diarmait Keogh all on the podium.
Finn Valley AC’s Cara Laverty was the U19 girls gold medalist, winning from Nuala Bose (Finn Valley) and Rosses AC’s Amy Greene.
Philip McGee tool the win last week u16band again this week out of age u17b
Underage
U11s Darcy Clarke Lifford in boys Evan Ward Rosses Team – boys LK in ahead of FV 36-42; girls FV won it led by Saorla Gilligan, they ahead of Rosses
U13s Boys won by Darragh Naughton LK in ahead of Odhran Rodgers Rosses team won by FV from Rosses and LK third; girls won by guest runner Sarah Mulvaney-Kelly North Leitrim beat Faela Houston Rosses Holly McNulty third and she led FV team to win from Rosses and Cranford
U15s boys won by Caolan McFadden Cranford continue good form impressively in 10:50, 11:06 for Mark Galvin. Tight battle FV team 31 to LK 33. Girls Anna Russell from Lk India girl Mia Fletcher Cranford second Emma Bonnar LK third after a great race up front throughout. LK win team 21 pts
U17s Cranford won Indiv and girls Clodagh Neely led team home; Philip McGee LK from Ryan Quinn fv and Eoin Mulhern Irish. Team
U19 Sean McGinley led FV 1-2-3 with Oisin Toye and Diarmait Keogh. No teams
Cara Laverty won the U19 girls from Nuala Bose with Amy Greene Rosses third.