All Ireland Cross Country a Huge Success
The All Ireland Cross Country Championships hosted by West Waterford Athletic Club last weekend were a huge success. Thousand of athletes and spectators traveled from all over the country and there wasn’t a spare bed in the town on Saturday night. The course was as usual in tiptop condition and the good weather of late meant that the dry surface would lend itself to some very fast running. With such a crowd present there was a fantastic atmosphere as club supporters cheered on their athletes.
Pictured is Michael Heery,
President of Athletic Ireland
with Kate Veale West Waterford AC,
after Kate was presented with
her bronze medal at the
All Ireland Cross Country
Champiosnhips
at St. Augustines last Sunday.
Individual Medal for Kate Veale
The first West Waterford athlete in action was Kate Veale in the under 15 girls and she gave us plenty to cheer about. Starting on the outside Kate got away to a good start as the mass of athletes sprinted out along the very wide start. The longer distance over 1500m also suited Kate better and mid way through the race Kate was up with the leading bunch and was running very strongly. With about 500m to go she made a brave bid and went into the lead but she was overtaken in the long run for home by some of the faster finishing athletes and finished 5th to claim her first individual All Ireland cross country medal. This was a huge improvement on her run two weeks ago in her own age group and underlines the progress that Kate has made this year. Well-done Kate from all in West Waterford.
Silver for Edel Roche
Another West Waterford athlete who has made great progress this year is Edel Roche. It was really only this year when the trip to Paris was mooted that our under 16/17 girls team of Edel, Rebeca Maher, Claire Collins and Kate Kennedy got down to some serious and consistent training and the effect of it have really been seen this cross country season as they won county titles, Munster medals and qualified to run in the All Ireland cross country for the first time. All four ran well on the day in a very fast and competitive race. Edel was a scoring member of the Waterford team that won the silver medals in the inter county competition and so collected her first All Ireland medal. Final placings were Edel Roche (61), Rebecca Maher (64), Claire Collins (75) and Kate Kennedy (79).
In the boys under 17 event Joe Conway had a good run finishing in 51st while Brian Hallissey continues to make his way back to full fitness and finished 70th.
Gold for Elma Nugent and Jenny Hurley
Waterford athletes enjoyed considerable success in the under 19 girls taking both the individual and team titles. West Waterford had two athletes in the scoring six Elma Nugent who ran strongly throughout the race to finish 15th thus adding a gold medal to the silver she won two weeks ago. Jenny Hurley had one of her best performances of the year to finish strongly in 18th place and secure that elusive All Ireland medal.
First All Ireland Medal for Rory Moloney
Rory Moloney showed the benefits of a good winters training when he finished 20th in the under 19 boys race. This is Rory’s first season competing at this level and he has made great strides over the season. On Sunday last he collected his first All Ireland medal as a member of the Waterford team that finished second in the in the inter county competition.
The success of any event is down to those who do the work in the background quietly and efficiently and there were there in big numbers on Saturday laying out the course and on Sunday there was a large presence from both the senior and juvenile clubs who stewarded the event. Our thanks to all who gave their time to make the event such an outstanding success.
Our athletes and coaches are taking a well-earned break but will be back in action in Colligan on Sunday 30th at 11am as they begin their preparations for the schools championships. A very happy Christmas to all our athletes and their families and we look forward to seeing them all back in action in 2008.
