Newbridge AC kick off the cross-country racing season
Newbridge AC ladies who competed at the Newbridge AC Open Cross-Country
The World Championships in Tokyo ended on a great high for Ireland as Kate O’Connor secured silver in the Heptathlon. In doing so she became just the sixth Irish person to win a world championships medal since the inaugural world track and field back in 1983 and the first multi-eventer. The affable athlete has secured four medals from global majors in this year alone. On the same day 23-year-old Cian McPhillips from Longford reached his first world championship final and finished 4th in the 800m – taking over two seconds off his personal best in the space of one week. Along with rewriting the Irish national record twice within a week. McPhillips is part of the same training group as Kildare AC athletes Robert Hewison and John Fitzsimons. Fitzsimons competed at the 800m in the World Championships in Budapest two years ago and has been plagued by injury ever since. We do hope to see him back on the track for the next season. So ends the long track and field season. An exciting one with multiple global medals for Irish athletes and with some Kildare athletes managing to compete on Irish teams too.
And so Cross-Country hits us with a bang. There is no respite in the world of athletics, one season over and the new one comes right back in at you – niggling to start the competitive element. That competitive element kicked off last weekend with the Newbridge AC annual Cross-Country. Well organised with plenty hard work orchestrated by the host club. It yielded dividends in terms of the number of participants (which were at an all-time high). Kildare talent was evident in all of the races, which augers well for the looming championship season. In general, many Kildare clubs have really high numbers at the moment, which is an excellent way to be and it certainly makes for a very competitive county championships in a few weeks’ time.
St Coca’s had the first winner of the day in Emily Kerrigan who won the u8 300m just ahead of Siomha McElroy (Newbridge) and Betty Carroll (Kilkenny City Harriers). Wicklow’s Reggie Querl (Lakeshore Striders) took the boy’s title. Querl beating James Murphy (Enniscorthy) in the home run.
Amelia Brogan (St Coca’s) gave the Kilcock based club their second victory of the day as she dominated the girls u10 race. A large field of 64 girls competed for top honours over the 600m cross-country course in Newbridge College. Brogan was followed by Emma Murphy (Enniscorthy) and Tara Coyne (Mullingar Harriers).
74 boys lined up for the u10 race, the largest field of the day. Victory went to Conor Farrell (Newbridge) who was a decisive winner in this large field. He was followed by a rapidly closing Tom Holland (Naas) with Ruairi Browne (Newbridge) taking the bronze medal. As teams go, Naas AC might just be the ones to watch in the girls and boys u10.
There was no let up in numbers as the age groups progressed. Large fields with plenty Kildare talent still prevailed. Laoise Byrne (Suncroft) had plenty work to do to shake off her opponents. Over the final 200m of the girls u12 1,200m she certainly showed she had the speed to do so as she took the gold leaving Ellen Gethings (Enniscorthy) and Emily Rose Coyne (Mullingar) in her wake. Behind these podium winners Crookstown-Millivew look like they have an excellent team ahead of the county championships. Although they will have to work hard to stop Newbridge and Naas AC from snatching the top team spots.
Glen Galloway made it a double Suncroft u12 victory as he took the boys race in a very convincing manner. Galloway showed immense talent in track and field and it looks like he going to emulate these performances through to cross-country. James Dooley (Newbridge) and Garbhan Prendergast (St Coca’s) finished second and third.
Iris McCartan (Clane) looked just as impressive over cross-country as she did on the track this summer. McCartan glided with ease over the 1,800m girls u14 course, putting space between herself and the rest of the field from an early stage. There was a good run from Ailbhe Byrne (Suncroft) and Gemma Ryan (Clane) to take the remaining podium spots.
It was good to see the talented Matthew Ennis (St Coca’s) back in action over cross-country again. Taking the gold, Ennis has established himself once again as a prime contender for championship titles over the coming month. Charlie McCabe (Newbridge) finished second with Zian Soobaya (Celbridge) in third.
Newbridge dominated the girls u16, just like they have done at Leinster level this past year or two. Robyn Browne, who ran so well at the schools cross-country earlier this year took the title with Mia Lennon second and Kate Hargaden in third. Jack Brennan (Newbridge) looks like he is all set for another excellent cross-country season. Brennan looked very impressive as he eased himself around the 2,500m course, with plenty to spare at the finish. Brennan and his team-mates occupied the first five positions, making them the team to watch his season.
Newbridge AC were the best club on the day. Their dominance at the u16 age group helping their plight. Second were St Coca’s with Naas AC in third.
In an unusual move (but a very successful one), Newbridge AC opted for an open over 16 race that was mixed gender. Over thirty athletes took part, a large number for an early season race. Jacob Ciomek (Lucan Harriers) led for the first three laps. The talented Dublin teenager coming into the season on the back of a fine win at the steeplechase at the Nationals this summer. When it comes to cross-country racing, you just cannot beat strength and experience. That is where Kildare’s Rob Hewison came in. Happy to let Ciomek do all the work, Hewison sat behind and made his move on the final lap. The 800m runner showing magnificent speed as he pulled further and further away from the field. Ciomek meanwhile paid the price for his early fast pace as his clubmate Ferdia McDonagh passed him right on the line. Lucan Harriers took the team title with athletes placed 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 10th.
The first female was Michelle Cox (Newbridge) whose winning ways seem to defy her years. Clodagh Rielly (Ratoath) took second with Hannah Cash (Newbridge) showing excellent form on the back of her recent internation to take third. It was good to see Meave Caffrey (St Coca’s) back running again after her leaving cert year. Caffrey took fourth place.
As the weeks are rapidly passing by the D-day for the Dublin marathon is approaching. Just under five weeks to go and scores of runners across Kildare and beyond will be lining up, revealing the fruits of their training. In the meantime, the road races continue, with mostly half-marathons being staged at this point. Dublin, Athlone, Belfast were just some of the half marathons on offer last weekend. With plenty of smaller ones to choose from too. All races of course geared towards that October marathon date in Dublin.
The biggest race of the weekend was probably the Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon where well over 6000 runners took part. The winner was Jake O’Regan (Leevale) in 1:07.18 who has been hot on the road running trail for the past number of months. Keith Browne (Newbridge) was the fastest Kildare man, finishing 67th in a time of 1:21.31. He was followed by Keith Brady (Naas) with a time of 1:23.46.
Caitlyn Harvey (Roadrunners AC) was the first female home in 1:18.42. The first Kildare lady home was Amy Downes (Naas AC) who managed to creep under the 2-hour barrier with a time of 1:38:03.
