Crosscountry athletes excel in Munster
Wednesday March 03 2010
THERE were some excellent performances and results by Kerry's athletes and Schools at the Munster Schools Crosscountry Championships hosted by Cork Institute of Technology last weekend.
Cillian O'Donovan, of Colaiste na Sceilge, Cahersiveen, stormed to victory in the Junior boys 3,500m race in a time of 11.49 and high finishes by team mates Liam O'Connell, Andy Quigley and Brian Sugure saw Colaiste na Sceilge take top spot in the team event.
Mercy Mounthawk Tralee put in a strong challenge over this distance as well with Mitchell Holland finishing 9th and Connor O'Mahony 17th in a field of almost 70 athletes.
In the minor boys 2,000m Michael Burns of St Brendans Killarney was a close second with Tom O'Sulleabhain of Pobal Scoil Chorca Dhuibhne in fourth and Adam Barrett 11th for Tralee CBS.
In the senior boys 6,000m Tadhg Moore of St. Brendans Killarney finished strongly in fifth.
Strong performances continued in the girls events with Mary Fitzgerald of Colaiste na Sceilge coming third in a close senior girls event, which was won by recent Cork City Sports Award winner Orlagh Farmer.
Niamh Joy from Intermediate School Killorglin came in shortly afterwards in ninth position.
In the Intermediate 3,000m Niamh De Hora from Pobal Schoil Chorca Duibhne was Kerry's highest finisher in sixth, while excellent runs by Karen Curran, Brigid Dennehy and Grace Lynch saw Colaiste Na Sceilge take its second team title of the day.
In the Minor 1,500m race Sarah Cooper, Vannessa Dineen and Michelle Leary took third place in the team event for Mercy Mounthawk.
Kerry athletes will be in action again in CIT on March 13 for the All-Ireland Schools Championships.
Meanwhile, Claire Fitzgearld, Tralee Harriers, won the MAAC regional shot putt in the Armory in New York recently with a throw of 13.86m, just five centimetres short of her own national junior record.
- James Nagle
