Main pic: Rosses AC U10 boys stars, Liam McGonagle, James McDonald, Tommy Sharkey and Thomas Conway.
Rosses Athletic Club was proud to host the senior and uneven age cross country championships in Mullaghderg last weekend.
The event was a great start for the hosts in the ladies race with Helen McCready running a superb race to finish third behind Amy Greene and Nakita Burke. Maria Ni Mhaolagain in 6th, Fionnuala Diver 11th, Bernie Boyle 12thensured the ladies secured a long deserved senior team medal with 3rdplace team. Rounding out a strong showing for the Rosses were Martina Mulhern, Nicole O’Donnell, Emer McGee, Sarah Mulholland, Sarah Doherty, Rachel Bonner, Cathy Breslin, Michelle Ferguson, Donna Gillespie, Angela Trimble and Colette Bonner. Well done all.
The Rosses AC senior ladies team that claimed bronze medals last Sunday.
In the men’s race over 8k, first home for the Rosses was Declan Gallagher, followed by Gavin Ward, Michael Logue, Karl Bonner and Oliver O’Donnell.
Then it was on to the juveniles and the day started with the u16 and u18 girls race with Aoife McGonagle in the u16 race continuing to improve and claimed a top 7 finish in a very competitive race. In the u18 girls Leah Ward was to claim a podium position as she finished 3rd and team mate Hannah McGee in close pursuit in 4th place. Next up was the u9 girls and these two names we will hear again as Molly McCready and Aine Doherty secured 2nd and 3rd place finishes with Vianna Doherty Sanz 7th and Rosie Cannon 11th. In the u9 boys James McDonald led from start to finish to claim victory and was backed up strongly by Liam McGonagle, Tommy Sharkey and Thomas Conway in top ten finishes. In the u10 girls Katie Sharkey ran herself to 5th place with Isa Bonner 6th and back strongly by Sarah Minnock in 9th and Lucy Brennan in 10th to claim Bronze team medals. The team were backed up by Molly McCready running her second race of the day and Elsa Gillespie improving with every race. In the u10 boys Deacon Parker secured 8th place, Reuben Ward 11th, Ben Robinson and Leighton Boyle getting into the top 20 with the team securing bronze team medals – well done lads!!!
The Sharkey sisters, Katie and Molly, who both ran top 8 place finishes in their respective age groups.
In the u12 girls, Caitlin Sweeney and Enya Logue mixed it with a strong Letterkenny team and came home in 4th and 5th places with Claire Minnock and Tamara Parker ensuring the team were bronze medal team winners. The team was rounded out by the younger athletes of Taylor McCole, Bronte Greene and Sarah O Donnell. Ruairi Lynch lead the u12 boys team of James McGonigle, Patrick McGeever and Jack Campbell home finishing 4th team but some strong performances on a tough course. Aileen Logue led out the u14 girls race and paid a little for the fast pace and in the end had to settle for 8th place with the fast finishing Molly Sharkey in 9th place and her best run of the year. The u14 boys saw a really strong performance from Eli Duffy as he had a great battle and in the end claimed a great 2nd place. He was backed by the run of the day by Ben McGee as the wee man showed great heart to get up to 4th place. In the u16 boys Odhran Lynch showed he still has plenty of right in him as he claimed a top ten finish over the 3k distance during the hottest part of the day.
Overall there were some super performances and it was brilliant to see the sea of orange vests in all races and then out supporting the other Rosses runners and teams over the course of the day. A huge well done to all and big thanks to all the athletes, parents, coaches and officials who helped ensure it was another great day and experience at Mullaghderg.
Over at the Donegal East 3/4, 1/2 and 13k and in the 3/4 Marathon in the ladies race there was an impressive win for Claire O Donnel 2:22:11. Emily Bonner ran 2:43:33 and Bridget Molloy 2:49:08. Charlie O Donnell claimed 4th position in the men’s race in an impressive 1:59:29. Patrick Trimble 8th and 1st M50 2:06:02, Paul McKelvey 2:12:04, Denis Boner 2:22:41, James McGeehan 2:25:09, Noel O Donnell 2:26:46, Brendan McBride 2:34:36 and Adrian Bonner 2:51:11. In the 1/2 marathon Mark Ward won in 1:20:14, Norman McClean 1:29:16 and Keith O’Connell 1:31:15. In the 13k race Ashleigh NicSuibhne was first in 55:18, Keeva Gallagher 2nd in 56:27.
Also, we had Veronica McLoone take on the Berlin Marathon running 4 hours 40 mins.
Tags: