Letterkenny AC juveniles, along with their families and coaches, headed off Saturday morning and enjoyed a great weekend in Dublin, competing in the All-Ireland Even Age Cross country Championship in National Campus at Abbotstown.
Each of the Athletes have worked hard all season, with competing in Donegal’s, then Ulsters and getting to Nationals is a great Achievement.
The U12 Boys have been on a Winning Roll over the last few weeks and they were lined out in their black and amber colours, ready to go.
This was one of the competitive races of the day, but the LAC boys continued their streak and worked together as a team, keeping a steady pace, with Phillip McGee, leading his team-mates home in 20th place, following Adam McDaid (46th), Mark Galvin (51st), Eoghan Farren (57th), Billy McFeely (97th), and Charlie Robinson (112), saw the boys win a team Silver National medal.
A talented group of boys , who all ran with consistency all season.
Both Philip and Adam were counters on the Donegal team, who won silver and Philip also was a counter on Ulster team who also won Silver, saw him take home three National medals.
Our U14 girls all ran exceptionally well, with a mixture of nerves and excitement at the start of the race in amongst 160 other competitors didn’t stop the girls performing on the day.
Gillian Reynolds (78), who has had a fantastic season, ran a great race, first girl home for LAC, following were Aimee Bonar (100th) and Chloe Shiels (114th), both girls competing at nationals for first time and ran superbly, with Nicole McDaid, Katie McGee and Tiegan Smith all finishing well up the field.
Oran Kelly was our only U14 runner, as young Evan Keown, who was ready to race but unfortunately didn’t feel 100 percent made the decision not to run.
Evan is one of LAC’s talented athletes, who has a bright future ahead and many more nationals ahead of him. Oran Kelly had a great race, holding his own in the middle of the pack to finish in a fine 58th place.
Oran has been working hard all season and starting to pay off for him.
We had two runners in the U16 girls race.
Mollie Page ran a super race , looking very comfortable with a good pace, staying with the leader pack over the 4K, saw Mollie coming into the Home front in a fine 18th position.
Mollie has climbed her way up the ladder over the last two years, and the hard work and determination is starting to pay off.
Megan McDaid, running out of her age, ran an excellent race, staying in good position throughout, in what was a competitive race, held her own to finish well in middle of the pack.
Our U16 boys, all performed very well, with David, Jack and Oisin all been counters on the Donegal team who won Silver national medals.
David Smith had a good strong gusty race, looking very content, keeping out in force near the leaders, over the 4.5k and was the first LAC home in (30th) place, following was Jack Holian running out of his age, again having a fantastic season of cross country held his own and kept a good continued steady pace to finish a fine (41st), with Oisin Farren ran exceptionally well, throughout the race, keeping good position with steady strides had a good finish to see him the 6th counter for Donegal team who won national silver.
Well done to everyone, and thank you to coaches, parents, athletes and to Paul (Marleys Coaches) who helped make the weekend a success.
