The National Community Games Finals have found a new home on our own doorstep, where Abbotstown becomes the new Mosney. This first weekend saw seven Dunboyne AC athletes competing for Meath both the Marathon and the Mixed Distance Cross Country Relays. Conditions were dry, boy there was a nip on the breezy course.
Kate Gormley was competing in the first race of the day as she ran the 400m leg of the under 12 Girls Mixed Distance Relay race, the strong Meath team easily qualified for the finals in the afternoon. In the final the Meath team were in the mix, however by the time the baton made it’s way around to Kate in the anchor leg it looked as if the gap was going to be a bridge to far- never say never- Kate ran out of her socks to snatch a bronze medal for her team- definitely Dunboyne’s ‘Dash of the Day’ award winner.
The trio of Ciaran McCormack, Mathieu Kieffer and Dylan Ryan were three quarter of the Meath team in the Boys Under 12 Mixed Relay race, with all four panel members underage for this event next year these lads were always up against the odds, the boys dug deep and qualified for the final. In the final the boys finished seventh overall, a good learning curve for next year’s outing.
Both Aoife McCormack and Doireann Ni Fhlatharta have tasted glory in the Mixed Distance Relay at National Level having won Gold at Under 12 level, so it was no surprise as they helped the Meath Under 14 Girls qualify for the final. In the final the girls performed well, and were just pipped for a podium position in the last 20m, unlucky.
Dunboyne AC made up the entire Meath Girls Marathon Team where Katie Greene, Kate Reilly, Bonnie McFeat and Sarah Magee had to battle around a fast, twisting and more than complicated 7 kilometer course. These Girls have trained extremely hard in recent times, and despite some athletes carrying injuries, they all lined up for duty. Katie Greene led the troops home with a top ten finish, which was the foundation for a bronze medal in the Inter County Team Event, a just reward for their dedication. It is time for rest and recuperation for the quartet-fantastic running.
Well done to all and a big thanks to all those who traveled in support.