ATHLETICS | Leah completes a county championship double for St Gerard’s AC

Teenager adds U15 title to her collection at DkIT

Leah Mooney celebrates her victory in the U15 girls race at the Louth Cross Country Championships at DkIT

Dundalk St Gerard’s AC had a number of young athletes at the Louth Cross Country Championships at DkIT recently.

Representing the club were Cara Miele, Sarah Holmes, Hazel Larkin, Molly O’Callaghan, Tom Phillips Adam Joynt, Rían McCrystal, Cillian Mullen, Finn Murphy, Ben Eccles, Grainne Moran, Abaigh Moonan, Enya Silkena, Tara O’Connor, Doireann Conlon, Nicole Mulholland, Daire McEnteggart, Leah Miele, Rachel Culligan, Amy Toal, Emily Moran, Hayden Mulholland, Ethan Mullen Logan Carroll, Ronan Campbell, Leah Mooney, Isabel Holmes, Caitlin Mulholland and Kate Smyth.

With the U19 girls race being run alongside the intermediate ladies and U17 girls race, it was Caitlin Mulholland and Kate Smyth who were first into action over the 4k distance. Both girls did brilliantly with Caitlin taking silver and Kate running well in fourth.

Next up were the U9 events and with large fields in action, the races were real cavalry charges. With no team event in this category, there were medals on offer for the first 10 home.

The young athletes of Dundalk St Gerard’s AC at the Louth Cross Country Championships at DkIT

Hazel Larkin lead the girls over the line with a great medal winning run with Cara Miele just behind her while Molly O’Callaghan and Sarah Holmes performed really well also.

For the boys, Finn O’Connor was outstanding with a superb run in second place and Tom Phillips was in the medals too with another fine display on his second outing.

Adam Joynt just missed out after getting boxed in at the start along with Rían McCrystal, Ben Eccles, Finn Murphy and Cillian Mullen who all ran strongly right behind him.

The U11 girls race was a really brilliant contest. Coming into the last 500m, Grainne Moran was right there in the top two with Enya Silkena beginning to make up ground on the duo.

Enya Silkena receives a well deserved congratulations from her dad Morris after her win in the U11 girls race at the Louth Cross Country Championships at DkIT

With her customary storming finish, Enya swept into the lead in the last 150m to hold it all the way to the line for a great win.

Grainne took bronze, followed home by the ever improving Abaigh Moonan, Doireann Conlon, Tara O’Connor, Nicole Mulholland and Dara McEnteggart.

The top four finishers for the club, Enya, Grainne, Abaigh and Doireann took a brilliant team gold medal.

For the boys, Ronan Campbell ran a great race, finishing strongly to lead the team home followed by the ever improving Hayden Mulholland, Logan Carroll and Ethan Mullen.

Leah Miele lead the way for the girls U13 team, followed home by the strong finishing Rachel Culligan, Amy Toal and Emily Moran who all ran really well over the 2.5k course.

Left: Rian McCrystal in action in the U9 boys race at the Louth Cross Country Championships at DkIT. Right: Finn O’Connor on his way to second place in the U9 boys race

Leah Mooney and Isabel Holmes were the last two athletes to toe the line for the club with both girls moving up a year in the U15 girls race which was held over 3.5k.

After her strong run to win the U14 Championship the previous week, Leah was looking to double up against the older girls. Throwing down the gauntlet from the off, she relished the increased distance to impressively draw right away from a strong field and make it a super county championship double.

Isabel ran another good race showing great heart to cover the longer trip and continued her improvement.

Training has now moved to the club’s winter schedule with sessions taking place in DkIT Sport on Tuesdays at 6:30pm, Dundalk Sports Centre at 7pm on Thursdays and Newry track at 7:30pm on Thursdays.

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