All Ireland Cross Country Championships Uneven Ages - 15th Dec 2013

Post date: Jan 03, 2014 6:51:30 PM

The All Ireland Cross Country Championships for the uneven ages was held in Carriganore, WIT on Sunday 15th December last. Conditions were good but it was extremely cold. It was a very late fixture and well done to the five Youghal AC athletes who trained so well and over such a long period. It was also great to see two new faces Ciaran McNamee and Avril Cashman.

Avril Cashman was the first to compete in the G/11 race. She ran a fantastic race finishing in 18th place. She was the 6th scorer on a very competitive Cork team which won the inter-county section. It was great to see Avril win her first All Ireland gold medal and especially as she was running up an age. There were 150 competitors. Avril came very close to winning a Munster team medal also.

Ciaran McNamee also ran a great race in a very fast field. Ciaran finished in 82nd place and narrowly missed out in winning a Cork medal as he was 7th for Cork which came 3rd. Nevertheless this was a huge achievement for Ciaran to qualify for this race in his first year of athletics and he has also been suffering a foot injury. There were 158 athletes –this was one of the biggest races of the day.

Lucy O’ Keefe ran very well in the G/13 race again running up an age. She finished in 61st place in a very competitive field of 144 athletes. Lucy was the 5th scorer on the Cork team which came 3rd and this was Lucy’s 2nd All Ireland medal as she also won a Cork medal in Santry in the u12 race.

Jake McCarthy competed in a very competitive field of 143 runners in the u/13 race. Jake got spiked very badly just coming out of the start tunnel and was in pain throughout . Jake finished in 42nd place and was the 6th scorer for Cork who came 1st. Jake won a gold inter-county medal and showed great character to finish this race so well with a badly torn shoe and cut foot.

Fearghal Curtin ran a strong race mixing with the leading pack a year out of his age. He was in 3rd/4th place at the halfway mark of this 5000m race. He suffered a bad stitch going into the last 1500m but finished in a very good 8th place winning a bronze individual medal. He was the 2nd scorer on the Munster team which won the interprovincial section and he was the first scorer on the Cork team which came 2nd in the Inter-county race. Fearghal won three medals in addition to the three medals that he won in Santry two weeks previously in the u16 race. More photos available at www.youghalac.com/photos

Well done to all the juveniles who trained and competed so well throughout the Cross Country season. Training will recommence on Monday 13th January with leagues in Tower Park.