St Abban’s juvenile Cross-Country season came to a close on Sunday in Tramore at the National Novice and Juvenile Uneven Age Cross-Country Championships.
The club had 36 athletes in action across a range of ages from U-11 all the way up to Novice Men’s.
The highlight of the weekend was Sinead Fitzpatrick’s National Title, winning the U-13’s 2500m race in some style.
With about 1km left, Ballinakill native Fitzpatrick struck for home, crossing the line well clear of 2nd place to take victory.
She also led the Leinster team to 2nd place overall in the provincial competition.
Ellie Knowles also ran well on the course gathering plenty of places on her way home.
The day started with the Girls U-11 who competed over 1500m. Ava Brophy and Penelope McMahon ran really strongly together finishing 29th and 30th.
With the support of Meabh Kearney, Kate Kelly and Lily Knowles the girls finished in 10th place in the club competition with Ava and Penelope part of the Leinster team who finished in 3rd place.
The Boys U-11 were next where Conor Keegan led the team home in 41st.
Sean O’ Doherty was next followed by Edward McDonald, Liam Doyle, Rian Bolton and Conor Kennedy.
When the team totals were added together the boys score was good enough for 11th place overall.
The Boys U-13 were next to take on the challenging course. Eoin Dowling led the club home in 39th, Daire O’Sullivan was next in 61st, Harry Brennan in 89th and Cathal English rounded out the team in 112th.
John Conway, MJ Dowling, Fionn Campbell and Callum Kenny completed the club’s athletes in action.
The boys scores saw them finish in 12th place overall in both the Club and County competitions.
Zoe Dunne led the Girls U-15 trio home finishing in 60th place; Chelsey Dooley was next in 81st with Leigha Kenny in 146th.
The Boys U-17 were next to compete over 4500m where Will Duffy was first home for the club in 29th.
Kalem Buggy and Shane Stynes were also in action finishing in 72nd and 120th.
Will also helped Leinster to 3rd province, while the Laois County team finished in 7th place overall.
Another highlight for the club came in the Girls U-19 race. Rachel Ayers ran a brilliant race over 5000m to put herself inside the individual medals in 5th place.
She gradually worked her way through the field and picked off places on each lap.
Ayers’ 5th place finish helped the Leinster team to gold in the province competition.
Caitlin Dillon Byrne also competed in the girls U-19 where she finished in 47th place.
The Novice Women competed over 4000m where Emily O’Shea was first home for the club in the 15th, Niamh Quinn was next in 28th with Siobhan Burke back in 67th place.
The Novice Men’s race completed the action on Sunday where Cian Kelly ran a very well-judged race to finish in 5th place overall.
Cian also worked his way from pack to pack and a string finish saw him finish just outside the medals in 5th.
Niall Harvey was next in 99th, David McEvoy was 138th, while
Corentin Petit rounded out the club team in 189th.
Next up is the European Cross-Country next weekend, and then Laois Senior Cross-Country on December 15.
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