NI age group X-country champs 23 Oct
Sun 24 October 2010--admin
The playing fields of UUJ were the setting yesterday for the N. Ireland and Ulster (Even) age-group cross country championships. City of Lisburn had a large squad of athletes competing, with representatives in all but one of the eight races from the U10 to U16 categories.
Conditions underfoot were fairly firm earlier on but deteriorated as the programme progressed due to the rain and cold and also the large numbers in many races. Athletes were chasing not just individual and team glory but also qualification for the All-Ireland championships later this year (top 12 individuals and top 3 teams per race).
The U10 girls raced over 600 metres and Olivia Savage was a very respectable 18th with team-mate Olivia Neill 35th, both good runs from the large field of nearly 70. Matthew Neill had a good run for 21st in the U12 boys’ race.
Lisburn’s U12 girls had a great day, with 3 in the important top 12 places. First home was Kate Gourley in a great 5th, followed home by Rebekah Douglas in 8th and Lucy Smyth in 12th. Cara McIlroy in 21st and Emma Neill in 51st were the other club athletes in the race, both good positions from another large field.
Individual medals were extremely hard to come by due to the strength in depth of the races, but Jonathan Whan took bronze with a superb run in the U14 boys’ race. He was followed home by Ross Curry in 32nd and James Edgar in 55th.
The City of Lisburn U14 girls took the club’s only team medal of the day with a fine silver. Zoe Carruthers battled magnificently the whole way round to finish an excellent 4th. The consistent Madison Bowyer was just behind her in 8th. Naimh Madden in 27th and Caitlin Lyness in 38th completed the team scoring. Also running well were Natalie Fair in 41st and Lauren Gourley in 53rd.
Rebecca Harvey used all her experience to secure the club’s only other individual medal, a bronze in the U16 girls’ race, while Dominic Martin in 33rd was the club’s only athlete in the U16 boys’ race.
Congratulations to Rebecca and Jonathan in particular but also to all the young athletes who represented the club so well and good luck to all those who gained qualification for the All-Irelands.