NI & Ulster Novice XC Championships:
Letterkenny AC celebrated a double success as Eoin Hughes and Niamh Kelly were crowned Northern Ireland & Ulster Novice XC Champions in Scotstown today (Sunday 11th November 2018).
Hundreds of junior athletes contested NI & Ulster Uneven Age Group medals on what was an excellent day of competition; places at the All Ireland XC were also up for grabs.
In the men’s race, Eoin Hughes topped the podium after completing the 6,000m course in 23:18. The 19-year-old was followed across the line by Lifford Strabane AC’s Allan McGinley, who clocked 23:50 for 2nd place and the associated silver medal. David McMenamin of Inishowen AC completed the podium in 23:56 (3rd place).
There was a similarly comfortable victory for Niamh Kelly in the ladies 4,000m race. The 21-year-old Letterkenny athlete broke the tape in 17:19 (1st place) for the win. Helen McCready (Rosses AC) secured 2nd place in 17:41, ahead of Amy Hamill (Glaslough Harriers), who crossed the line in 18:07 for 3rd place.
In the team competition, Rosses AC claimed 1st place in the ladies standings, with Derry Track Club and Foyle Valley AC securing 2nd place and 3rd place respectively.
In the men’s competition, Letterkenny AC secured gold medals in 1st place, while Foyle Valley AC took 2nd place and Milford AC 3rd place.
NI & Ulster Uneven Age Group Championships:
The day started off with wins for Harry Shields (Letterkenny AC) and Emer McKee (Willowfield Harriers) in the competitive Under 11 age group races.
Olympian YC’s Boyd Russell and East Down AC’s Anna Gardiner excelled with victory in the Under 13 category, before Oisin Kelly (Cranford AC) and Amy Greene (Rosses AC) completed a County Donegal double with wins in the Under 15 races.
Classy Cara Laverty (City of Derry AC) claimed a comfortable win in the Under 17 girls race, while Adam Ferris of St Malachy’s AC improved on his Even Age Group silver medal with an excellent win in the boy’s race.
Springwell Running Club’s Niamh Carr led the way with a win in the Under 19 ladies race. In the Under 19 Men’s race, Conall McClean (St Malachy’s AC) added to his recent Under 18 gold in Antrim with another podium topping performance.
Full Results: NI & Ulster Novice XC Championships 2018 Results and NI & Ulster Uneven Age Group XC Championships 2018 Results
Elsewhere this weekend…
North Down AC athletes Jessica Craig and Rachel Gibson both impressed at the Scottish Athletics Lindsay’s Short Course XC Championships (Saturday 10th November 2018). Jessica claimed 11th place with Rachel following closely in 14th place. Full results for the event are available HERE.
In Milton Keynes, two local junior athletes were in action at the British Athletics Cross Challenge (Saturday 10th November 2018). In the Under 15 event, Dylan McBride (Willowfield Harriers) finished in 6th place, while in the Under 20 race, City of Derry AC’s Liam George crossed the line in 114th place. Full results for the event are available HERE.
