The 2016 Cross Country Season ( yes in February 2017) was finally brought to a close as the Dunboyne AC Juvenile and Fit for Youth athletes had their second outing of the weekend as they made the long trek to the sunny south east ( IT WAS DARK AND BITTERLY COLD) for the All Ireland Development Cross Country. Waterford IT Sports Ground was the venue for the races, with many athletes still recovering from the trip to Athlone the previous day where they had contested Day 1 of the Leinster Indoor Track and Field Championship. The weather was numbing, just as well as the course was a little more hilly and muddy than the athletes were expecting, providing grueling racing conditions. The following teams togged out in the club colours ;
Under11 Girls: LILLY O MALLEY, KATE GORMLEY, ELIZABETH COMERFORD, HANNAH BROWN,ISABELLE PHILLIPS, MEAVE WALSH, AMIE O REILLY and SOPHIE BROWN.
Race Report: These girls braved the elements on Sunday to put a good team performance together as Kate Gormley led the youngsters to 12th in the team competition out of 24 clubs. All girls are still learning the trade, but their positivity was infectious and brought confidence to the older athletes.
Under 11 Boys: CIAN MCCORMACK, MATHIEU KIEFFER, JED COLLINS, FINN CONHEADY, DAITHI GANNON and DYLAN RYAN
Race Report: There were a lot of tired legs from Athlone the previous day, however the boys dug deep to claim 7th in the team competition. Ciaran McCormack had another fantastic run as he won an individual medal by coming home a fine sixth to follow on from a successful 2016. It would have been interesting to see how they fared had they been rested and our racing calendar not so cluttered.
Under 13 Girls: KAYLA RYAN, AOIFE MCCORMACK, LUCY EGLINGTON, KIRSTEN KELLY MOODY and RUBY MCFEAT
Race Report: The team were hit by a lot of withdrawals since the entries were initially submitted, but the girls got on with the task at hand, again an air of respectability with their seventh placing in the team competition. Aoife McCormack ran the race of her life (AND EARNED FAMILY BRAGGING RIGHTS for 2017)as she worked hard on the hills to make the podium and claim individual bronze. Poor Kayla missed out on a medal by one place, despite getting spiked at the start of the race and having two hard races in her legs from the indoors on Saturday.
Under 13 Boys: PABLO MENDEZ and JOHN BROWN
Race Report: Another case of what might have been after a number of withdrawals leaving us short of fielding a scoring team. Pablo and John put in a good slog and showed how they are maturing nicely at distance athletes.
Under 15 Girls: DOIREANN NI FHLATHARTA, KATE REILLY, KATIE GREENE, SARAH MAGEE,BONNIE MCFEAT and ANNA GRIFFIN
Race Report: Team performance of the day as this loyal bunch of athletes came away with gold in the club competition as well as bronze in the Inter County Competition. The six girls showed great character with all six performing well as they fought for every place up the finishing straight. Doireann topped off a good weekend by winning individual gold.
A big thank you to all the coaches and supporters who made the long trip South. Well done to all our athletes.
