National Even Age, U20 and Senior

123.ie National Cross Country

A small contingent of Kilkenny athletes took on the long journey to Templemore in Co. Derry this weekend for the 123.ie National Even Age, U20 & Senior Cross Country Championships. In true cross country style, the athletes not only battled against their competitors but unfortunately, they also had to battle the elements of a typical Irish winter’s day. The athletes had to contend with blustery winds, sporadic downpours and a winding mucky course that would test the endurance of all. The younger juveniles certainly benefited from the earlier starts, as the course and grounds deteriorated more and more during each race, with over 100 runners taking to the start line in each race.  The host club City of Derry Spartans did an excellent job of hosting the National event, asking all those to stay off the course in the lead up and on the morning of the races, but little can be done to prevent our Irish weather wreaking havoc, while some say it’s the ‘ideal cross country conditions’ and a great experience for all those who have now qualified for Europeans in the U20, U23 & Senior categories. County Kilkenny was well represented on the day, with no less than 5 clubs having athletes compete as individuals or members of club and county teams. The U12 Boys County team qualified for Nationals having won gold at Leinster’s in Gowran back in October and placed a respectable 8^th overall on the day at Nationals. Kilkenny City Harriers had a club team competing in the U12 also after qualifying in Leinster’s with a club gold, and they went onto place 10^th overall in the National Club event in Derry.

Laura Aylward St. Senan’s was the sole runner in the Girls U14 event, having won an individual medal running in 10^th at Leinster’s, Laura qualified for her first ever All-Ireland in her first year of running cross country. Laura placed 50^th out of 178 runners in the Girls U14 race, an amazing feat for a new cross country runner, and no doubt this is just the start of her cross country journey.

The Boys U14 race was an epic battle that saw just four seconds separating the top four finishers across the line with Daniel Greene Kilkenny City Harriers storming to a fantastic 1^st place finish in Derry. One of the highlights of the day, the race started out fast, with the leading pack breaking away from the others very early on. Daniel remained deep in the pack and when the time was right, pushed his way into 2^nd place heading into the last 100m, where a sprint finish saw him clinch first spot from Harry McVeigh of Newcastle & District AC who had led the race for the most part. A fantastic finish for Daniel is his best performance yet at National Championships.

In the Girls U16 event, Kilkenny City Harriers had 6 members representing both club and county in the 4000m race. Although there were no individual medals earned on the day, the brilliant running from Sinead Cormack (19^th) and Emily O’Keeffe (28^th) placing in the top 30, saw the club team taking 2^nd place on 135 points with Amelia O’Brien (37^th) and Katie Byrne (51^st) the 3^rd and 4^th scorers on the club team to earn themselves the silver medal. The County team was 9^th overall with Ellen Cormack (88^th) and Heidi Ryan (129^th) making up the team.

In the Boys U16, Lewis Morgan St. Senans and Gearoid Farrell Gowran were representing their respective clubs, and great running from both guys in a large field that had 132 finishers taking on the 4000m. Lewis finished in 91^st place with Gearoid shortly after in 97^th place.

Both the Girls and Boys U18 and U20 races were combined together again like Leinster’s a few weeks back. In the girls race 165 finishers altogether made for a very stacked race over the 4500m distance. United Striders Emma Hickey fresh from her win in Leinster’s dominated the race once again and earned her European winning both the U18 & U20. The first home for Kilkenny in the combined race was Pia Langton in 5^th in the U20, followed after by Clodagh O’Callaghan who was 8^th in the U18 earning herself and individual medal and placing 12^th in the U20. The Kilkenny City Harriers U18 team was 11^th overall while the U20 team was 7^th in their club event.

The Boys U18 & U20 combined race Callum Barron Kilkenny City Harriers was just pipped at the finish line by Tom Fleming in 5^th place with both athletes finishing in 00:14:16, Callum placing 6^th. Kilkenny City Harriers club team placed 5^th overall on 184 points. Kyrell Mtinsi Kilkenny City Harriers was the first home in the U18 category in 51^st out of 124 runners. Kyrell was also the 4^th scorer on the U20 club team.

Hannah Kehoe Kilkenny City Harriers was the only Kilkenny runner in the Ladies U23 7500m which was also ran with the Ladies Senior event. The course at this stage in the day was rather dismal with runners opting to run on the outside of the course where possible to avoid the drag of the mucky course from impeding their race. Grace Richardson was the sole runner in Ladies Senior with Grace placing 12^th finishing the tough 7500m in 00:28:16. Cathal O’Reilly and Myles Hewitt were the two Kilkenny City Harriers to contest the Men’s U23 7500m distance, the last race of the day awash with heavy downpours and cut up ground that tested the will of each athlete throughout the race. Both runners had good races with Cathal placing in the top 20 running in 00:27:27 and Myles finishing a minute later in 00:28:32 for 27^th.  

Full list of results below:

Boys U12 (County *)

32^nd Daniel McIntryre KCH*

50^th Daniel Quinn KCH*

62^nd Luke Hanlon Thomastown*

71^st Cian Shortall Gowran*

101^st Aaron Tyrell KCH*

104^th Dylan Guilfoyle KCH *

114^th Cillian Maher KCH

117^th Charlie Norris KCH

124^th Huw Morgan St. Senans

131^st Rian Bergin KCH

County Team 8^th

Club Team 10^th

Girls U14

50^th Laura Aylward St. Senans

Boys U14

1^st Daniel Greene KCH

21^st Sam Woodcock KCH

98^th Dara Phelan Barrow Harriers

139^th Cillian Andrews KCH

146^th Brandon Maher KCH

Girls U16 (County *)

19^th Sinead Cormack KCH *

28^th Emily O’Keeffe KCH *

37^th Amelia O’Brien KCH *

51^st Katie Byrne KCH *

88^th Ellen Cormack KCH *

129^th Heidi Ryan KCH *

County Team 9^th

Club Team 2^nd

Boys U16

91^st Lewis Morgan St. Senans

97^th Gearoid Farrell Gowran

Girls U18

8^th Clodagh O’Callaghan KCH

64^th Kate Hayden Gowran

87^th Eimear Cormack KCH

109^th Aine Foley KCH

111^th Evelyn McEvoy KCH

Club Team 11^th

Boys U18

51^st Kyrell Mtinsi KCH

Girls U20

5^th Pia Langton KCH

12^th Clodagh O’Callaghan KCH

37th Charlotte Carpendale St. Senans

89^th Hazel Coogan KCH

95^th Eimear Cormack KCH

100^th Caoimhe Barry St. Joseph’s

123^rd Aine Foley KCH

125^th Evelyn McEvoy KCH

Club Team 7^th Kilkenny City Harriers

Boys U20

6^th Callum Barron KCH

12^th Ruairi McEvoy KCH

78^th Tom Murphy KCH

88^th Kyrell Mtinsi KCH

143^rd Evan Walsh St. Joseph’s

Club Team 5^th Kilkenny City Harriers

Ladies U23

15^th Hannah Kehoe KCH

Women Senior

12^th Grace Richardson KCH

Men U23

16^th Cathal O’Reilly KCH

27^th Myles Hewitt KCH