Saturday the 29th of October 2016 saw our juvenile athletes travel to the New Forest Golf Course in Tyrellspass, Co. Westmeath for the Even-Ages Leinster Cross Country Championship. The course was in immaculate condition with Mullingar AC being a well oiled machine when it came to hosting the event.
Dylan Ryan decide to come along for a trip to the Midlands and joined in the racing as he competed in the under 10 open race which was put on by our hosts as an curtain raiser for the Championship racing. Dylan despite getting boxed in early on in his race, recovered well to come home a impresive 5th in a field of over one hundred budding Olympians.
Our first team to the starting shutes were the under 12 girls made up of Elizabeth Comerford, Kate Gormley, Sophie Dolan, Aleah Kelly and Laura Gavin who showed great promise at the county championship. This talent bunch of girls put in a determined effort in their race, with both Aleah and Sophie finishing with individual medals as they led the team home to seventh place. Aleah,Kate, Sophie and Laura were part of the Meath team that took silver in the inter county competition. Aleah and Sophie will now represent Leinster at the upcoming All Irelands. This race will stand to Kate and Elizabeth when they return to race in the un-even ages equivalent race in a fortnight.
We had a very young under 12 boys team in action on Saturday, with all but one under age at this level again next year. Ciaran McCormack led Adam Smyth, Mathieu Keiffer, Jed Collins and John Brown home as the lads came home tenth in the club competition and seventh in the inter county competition. There will be much expected from the under team at the same venue when most of the boys return to compete in there own age group.
Youngsters Kayla Ryan, Aoife McCormack, Rachael Norman and Niamh Sherlock joined Katie Greene and Doireann Ni Fhlatharta to make up the u14 girls team. Kayla led the charge home, finishing just one place outside the individual medals as this talented bunch missed out on a club team prize by three points. There was a little more luck for the girls in the Royal colors as all six were county team members that took bronze.
The under 14 boys were on fire in the opening provincial race of the year. Conor Leane led twin Marc home as Ross Lyons shadowed the boys all the way to the line in a race that saw all three earn individual medals and the honor of provincial duty in November. Pablo Mendoza also was to come away with a medal in a race as he dug deep and helped the boys to joint third in the club team competition. Conor and Marc also claimed gold as part of the county team.
Our sole athlete in the under 16 race was Kate Reilly who had a fine race as she helped Meath to fourth in the inter county showdown.
Well done to all and thanks to all those who traveled.
