The St Abbans Senior Men’s team travelled to Raheny on Sunday last to compete in the National Road Relay Championships.
Hosted by Raheny Athletic Club, Cian Kelly, William Fox, Jack Fenlon and Brian Kelly competed for St Abban’s.
The course is set out on a one mile loop around Raheny with athletes completing the two mile leg, followed by a one mile, three mile and then a final two mile leg.
The club has competed at these championships in previous years but had not returned to compete in a number of years.
These are always very competitive championships with each team needing four strong endurance athletes to feature in the latter legs.
Cian Kelly got the day off to a great start leading the way home in the two mile leg.
He sat in the group until about 800 from home where he pulled a couple of seconds clear of the other teams finishing the two mile leg in 9:33.
He handed over to William Fox who had a great battle with former 1500m National Champion Eoin Pierce.
Fox battled the whole way around and once again had plenty of running left coming down the home straight to keep St Abbans right in contention.
Fox who has only returned from altitude ran a very impressive 4:24 for the mile leg. The 3 mile leg is always a very important leg with athletes able to create or close big gaps.
Jack Fenlon, competing for the first time at these championships ran a steady 3 mile leg of 14:50 to set up a ding dong battle with Raheny AC for the bronze medal.
Brian Kelly was on the final 2 mile leg for St Abbans and he set off at the same time as the Raheny athlete with both a good distance behind second and clear of 5th.
The winner of this battle would take bronze with the looser going home empty handed. The two completed the first mile with both still locked together.
As they made their way towards home, the Raheny athlete emerged from behind Brian and injected some pace into the battle for third.
Brian responded and the battle continued the whole way up the straight with Brian edging it with about 100m to go. He held onto this lead to claim the bronze medals for the rural club in South County Laois.
They finished behind the eventual winners Clonlife Harriers and Donore, two large Dublin clubs.
With Jack only 18 and Will and Cian in their early twenties we hope this team has plenty more days out like this.
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