A great group of Laois athletes travelled to Ferbane in Offaly on Saturday at the weekend to compete in Juvenile Uneven Ages (U-11 to U-19) and Women and Men’s Senior Championships.
Just like the last day out it was a Laois athlete that set the bar for the day with 8 year old Laura Ayres from St. Abban’s AC winning gold in the u9 non Championship race.
In the girls U11 race, Cara English from St. Abban’s AC was first home in 16th place, Hannah Cox finished in 36th place for Ballyroan Abbeyleix & District AC, Katie Harnett St Abban’s AC was 61th , Eliza McLoughlin Oughaval AC was 63th followed by Rachel Dooley and Elanna Kelly both St. Abban’s AC.
In the under 11 boys race, Laois had an amazing performance with three medal winners.
Daniel Downey St. Portlaosie led the race from the gun with Will Craig St. Michael’s AC just behind him.
They both kept their positions for the 1500m race, finishing with gold and silver medals.
Kalem Buggy St. Abban’s AC was next home in 11th place.
They were supported by Ronan Maher, Riley Connolly and Dylan Yarrow. Michael O’ Hanlon St Michael’s AC, Archie McDonald St. Abban’s AC and Mark Macauliffe St. Michael’s AC.
Girls Under 13, Rachel Ayres was first home in 12th position, a second behind her was club mate Jessica Murray in 14th place, Della McLoughlin Oughaval AC was 20th her sister Kate McLoughlin was 44th, Sadhbh Moore 76th.
We had only one runner in the boys u13 race, Shane Maher St. Michael’s AC who finished in 21st place.
It was great to see so many Laois girls in the U15 race.
Faye McEvoy Ballyroan Abbeyleix & District AC was first home in 10th place, Kate O’Neill St Abban’s AC was next in 38th position, Niamh Tunney Ballyroan Abbeyleix & District AC was 46th, Kate Connolly St. Michael’s AC was 47th, they were followed by Audrey Byrne St. Abban’s AC, Poppy Hackett St. Michael’s, Aoibhín McDonald St. Abban’s AC, Michelle Conroy Mountmellick AC, Rebecca Marshall Portlaoise AC, Leah Smullen Portlaoise AC, Grace Meade Portlaoise AC and Lucy Brennan Ballyroan Abbeyleix & District AC.
Our boys U15 runners again had a great day out.
Jack Fenlon, St. Abban’s AC was first home in 4th place, Mackenzie McIvor St. Abban’s AC was in 9th place, Eoin Cawley St. Abban’s was in 3rd place, Richard McLoughlin Oughaval AC was in 32nd place, Adam Buggy St. Abban’s was in 34th place, Lee Murray St Abban’s in 44th place, Sean O’ Sullivan St. Abban’s AC, Ruairi Jago and Aaron Foley Oughaval AC. St. Abban’s won 3rd Club Team.
We had a super boys team in the U17s category, winning the Bronze team medal.
Will Fox, St. Abban’s AC was first home in 8th position, Evan Hogg Ballyroan Abbeyleix & District AC was 20th, Oisin Jago Oughaval AC was 21st, Jack McMahan Ballyroan Abbeyleix & District AC was 24th, Charlie Hackett, St. Michael’s AC was 29th and Billy Ramsbottom Oughaval AC was 42nd and Daniel McLoughlin Oughaval AC was 45th.
In the Under 19 age category we had one contender in each of the age groups.
For the girls, Sarah Delaney, Ballyroan Abbeyleix & District AC 19th in 17:57 and for the boys Naoise Kettle from St. Abban’s AC was 12th.
We had two contenders in the Women’s Senior Race, Breda McDonald, Ballyroan Abbeyleix & District AC and Caitlin McDonald, St. Abban’s AC.
Both paced well from the start and fought hard in the second loop of the 5k to gain a few important positions.
Breda finished in 15th place in 20:25 and Caitlin in 17th position in 20:27.
Massive running by Tom Lupton and David Mulhare in the Senior men’s race.
Tom finished 9th in a time of 34.51, with David just 5 seconds behind in 11th.
Great times on a cross country course.
Also well done to Shay McCourt and Brian Yarrow representing Laois from St. Michael’s AC.
Here are some great photos from what was a fabulous day of competing.
SEE ALSO-The next three weeks of Laois GAA fixtures as the season hots up right at the end
