Another successful day at Westmeath Championships

The sky might have been very grey and overcast and the wind a bit on the chilly side, but that didn’t prevent a very good attendance in Belvedere last Sunday (October 10) for round 2 of the Westmeath Cross Country Championships, which was for boys and girls under 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 years of age, and for junior, novice, senior and master men and women. As in round one the previous week, competitors came from all across the County, all keen to perform well and secure a place on the teams to compete in the Leinster Championships. A good number of senior athletes took part, including some from Athlone IT Athletic Club.The juvenile athletes are getting used to the longer race distances introduced this year and were careful not to go off too fast from the start, which made for some great tactical racing. Each underage race was keenly contested with everyone hoping to run well and impress Club officials and make sure of selection on Mullingar and Westmeath teams in the Leinster Championships. The last race of the day was a combined race for boys u/17 and u/19, girls u/19 and men and women junior, novice, senior and master - with each group running over the same course but with different numbers of laps, so it was a great event for spectators. There were 39 men and women in the race, running along with the older juveniles, which made a great spectacle as the large group made its way across the open spectator-friendly Belvedere course. It was great to see many newcomers getting among the medals, especially in the novice women category.Thanks to all who helped on the day recording the results and stewarding on the course and to the parents who came and supported the competitors, but in particular to all the athletes who competed.The results of Round 2 were:Under 9 girls 800m - 1. Nicola Groenewald (The Downs), 2. Francesca Walsh (Killucan), 3. Síofra NíLéannacháin (Walshestown), 4. Rachel Darby (Killucan), 5. Ciara Smyth (Delvin), 6. Jennifer Fidgeon (Rathconnell), 7. Beatrice Drummond, 8. Alison Bane (Belvedere), 9. Marie Louise Walsh (Killucan), 10. Holly Keenan, 11. Maria Farrell, 12. Áine McManus, 13. Sarah Gorry (Coralstown), 14. Rachel Flynn, 15. Aidie Cronin (Killucan). Under 11 girls 1,500m - 1. Aoife Darby (Killucan), 2. Alisha Martin (Mullingar), 3. Daria Fidgeon (Rathconnell), 4. Maolíosa NíLéannacháin (Walshestown), 5. Sarah Moloney (Mullingar), 6. Elysia Greene (Monilea), 7. Susan Glennon (Coralstown), 8. Caoimhe Gaffney (Delvin), 9. Andrea Brady (Monilea), 10. Megan McNamee (Mullingar), 11. Annmarie Moran (Walderstown), 12. Katie Farrell (Walderstown), 13. Amy Maxwell (Ballymore), 14. Victoria Carr (Kilpatrick), 15. Julie Gannon (Brookfield), 16. Laura Shaw (Mullingar), 17. Caitriona Kennedy (Collinstown), 18. Cara Hogan (Mullingar), 19. Emma Thompson (Mullingar).Under 13 girls 2,500m - 1. Meabh McNulty (Killucan), 2. Niamh Quinn (Bracklyn), 3. Laura Whitelaw (Mullingar), 4. Hilary Harris (Rathowen), 5. Nicole Gorry (Coralstown), 6. Ellen Cronin (Killucan), 7. Alanna Bate (Knockdrin), 8. Lucy Langley (Mullingar), 9. Louise Gannon (Mullingar), 10. Dorothy Bane (Belvedere), 11. Adeola Ojomo-Amaka (Mullingar), 12. Aoife Doherty (Raharney).Under 15 girls 3,500m - 1. Linda Conroy (Kilbeggan), 2. Aisling Moody (Gaybrook), 3. Lorna Moody (Gaybrook), 4. Edel Glennon (Coralstown), 5. Lauren Casey (Mullingar).Under 17 girls 4,500m - 1. Ciara Hewson (Maynooth), 2. Lorraine Daly (Tyrrellspass), 3. Anna Ryan (Rathconrath), 4. Lorraine Claffey (Ballinagore).Under 19 girls 5,000m - 1. Rachel Yorke (Longford).Under 9 boys 800m - 1. Eoin Quinn (Bracklyn), 2. Andrew Shaw (blond) (Mullingar), 3. Eoghan Cronin (Killucan), 4. Anthony Moran (The Downs), 5. Mark Shaw (Mullingar), 6. Gary Farrell (Tyrrellspass), 7. Ruairi Fagan (Crookedwood), 8. Liam Moran (Ardnagrath), 9. Michael Doherty (Raharney), 10. Colin Smyth (Delvin), 11. Jack Keenan (Ardnagrath), 12. Cormac Mullen, 13. Sean Power, 14. Brian Gaffney, 15. Andrew Shaw (Mullingar), 16. Thomas Kennedy, 17. Killian Quinn, 18. Paul McCool (Cloghan), 19. Sean Derham (Mullingar), 20. Matthew Glennon (Coralstown), 21. Fionn Moran, 22. TJ Quinn, 23. Andrew Glennon (Coralstown), 24. Donal Mulvihill (Rathcoleman).Under 11 boys 1,500m - 1. Jack Moran (Multyfarnham), 2. Joseph Cronin (Killucan), 3. John Whitelaw (Mullingar), 4. James Drumm (Collinstown), 5. Andrew Daly (Mullingar), 6. Andrew Hogan (Mullingar), 7. Charlie Drumm (Collinstown), 8. Eunan Lagan (The Downs), 9. Stephen Keane, 10. Jonathan Lynam, 11. Declan Rodgers, 12. Eoin Ó Murchú, 13. Enda Gaffney (Delvin), 14. Liam Moran (The Downs), 15. Jamie Leavy, 16. Peter Bane (Belvedere), 17. Niall Derham (Mullingar), 18. Odhran Mulvihill (Rathcoleman).Under 13 boys 2,500m - 1. Cormac Dalton (Lynn), 2. Patrick Shaw (Lynn), 3. Michael Moran (Multyfarnham), 4. Kevin Giles (Kinnegad), 5. Declan Brady (Collinstown), 6. Jonah Kelly (Delvin), 7. Senan Lynam, 8. Joseph Moran (The Downs), 9. Adam Loughrey, 10. Eoghan Gallagher (Milltownpass), 11. Ciaran Nolan (Kilpatrick), 12. Niall Brady (Collinstown), 13. Conor Leavy.Under 15 boys 3,500m - 1. Padraig Moran (Multyfarnham), 2. Liam O’Reilly (Gaybrook), 3. Jack Reid (Rochfortbridge), 4. Glen Gaffney (Delvin), 5. Oisín Quinn (Bracklyn), 6. Mervyn Harris (Rathowen).Under 17 boys 5,000m - 1. Thomas Lynn (Ballynacarrigy), 2. Stephen Nea (Mullingar), 3. Ryan Blundell (Gaybrook), 4. Patrick Fagan (Mullingar), 5. Jonathan Daly (Mullingar), 6. Ian McCormack (Delvin).Under 19 boys 7,000m - 1. Vinny Connolly (Kinnegad), 2. Thomas Fagan (Mount Temple), 3. Robert Yorke (Longford), 4. Adam Daly (Mullingar).Novice women - 1. Sarah Lowry, 2. Hannah Buchanan, 3. Teresa Flanagan.Novice men - 1. Mark Carroll, 2. David Fagan, 3. Colm Walsh.Senior women - 1. Mary Scully, 2. Ciara Dillon, 3. Eva Ross.Senior men - 1. Tom McGrath, 2. Paddy Kelly, 3. Aidan Gorry.Master women - 1. Michelle O’Halloran, 2. Vera McCool, 3. Terri Greene.Master men - 1. Liam McGlynn, 2. Paddy Daly, 3. Ben Vaitkavichius.Full results for men and women junior, novice, master and senior can be seen at www.mullingarharriers.com.Juvenile Club and County teams for the Leinster Championships will now be picked based on the results from both rounds. A few juveniles unavoidably missed one round or other, but that’s okay and they’ll still be considered for team selection.Extra TrainingWith the longer race distances, it is absolutely vital that everyone puts in the extra effort at training between now and the Leinsters, and therefore in addition to the normal Tuesday and Thursday nights at the Club and Belvedere on Sunday morning, we’ll have an extra session in Belvedere this coming Saturday at 11am. Everyone selected on teams and anyone who is serious about competing well in the Leinsters must make every effort to attend on Saturday morning.Gerry Farnan Cross CountryA number of Club athletes will be competing in the Gerry Farnan Cross Country in the Phoenix Park this coming Sunday, including a number of our master athletes, as this race is the trial for Ireland teams to compete at the Masters Home Countries Cross Country in Santry in November.We wish them all the very best of luck.Club vestsAthletes must wear a Club vest in the Leinster Championships, so newcomers in particular are encouraged to buy their own vest any night at training.Road safety/reflective clothingAs it is now dark before 8pm, athletes running from the Club house on the roads on Tuesday and Thursday nights must wear reflective clothing. It might be bright when you leave but it is dark when you return.Important cross country dates17th Oct. Gerry Farnan Cross Country & Masters Trials, Phoenix Park24th Leinster Cross Country (even ages, Novice, Master) Belvedere7th Nov. Leinster Cross Country (uneven ages, Intermediate) Adamstown, Co. Wexford14th Masters Home Countries Cross Country, Santry28th AAI Cross Country (even ages, Inter-Counties) Derry12th European Cross Country, Albufeira, Portugal19th December. AAI Cross Country (uneven ages, Novice) TullamoreTraining continues each Tuesday and Thursday from the Clubhouse in Grange at 7pm and at Belvedere this Saturday and Sunday morning at 11am. The ground is still firm enough to train in flat running shoes, which provide much better support than spikes. For races, spikes should be at least 9mm. For the latest results, news and details of all upcoming fixtures check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com.