In the absence of a Seniors event this weekend, apart from Michael McKeown’s participation in the Dune Half Marathon on Sunday, a very respectable 1.36.03 for 87th place in a field of over 500, it is surely not before time that priority be given to the performances of many of our Junior runners, who are the future after all.
ULSTER SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
On Wednesday past the Milk It Ulster Schools Cross Country Championships took place at Mallusk and provided opportunities for a host of East Down juniors to show their mettle against the cream of Ulster. And commendably well they did too.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Mackenzie Murray was first East Down and Cedar IPS boy home in the Flahavan’s Porridge Primary School race which preceded the secondary school’s races, placing 33rd overall in a field of 212 – great result for him. Going even better in the Girls race was Lauren Madine who took a superb Silver medal, just behind winner Niamh McGarry, St. Malachy’s Coleraine in a field of just under 200, to confirm her rising star potential.
However I am left somewhat confused by the categories used in the Secondary Schools competitions what with Mini, Minor, Inter, Junior and Senior Boys and Girls – all designed to confuse an old man like me. I remember Mini cars, buses, mums and skirts but Mini Boys and Girls? No, well after my time! Anyway, luckily no such confusion reigned when the action got under way with everyone knowing to which designation they belonged.
MINI BOYS and MINOR GIRLS
George McBratney clearly knows his place is the front and this recent addition to East Down’s array of talent, representing Down High School took an eyecatching 2nd place in the Mini Boys race a mere 6 seconds behind the winner Dylan McBride, Grosvenor Grammar School.
It was good to see Newcastle’s Eve Keneally representing Shimna College, take a splendid 6th place in the Minor Girls race, an event in which East Down’s Caitlin Burke was 95th.
JUNIOR, INTER and SENIOR GIRLS and INTER BOY!
In the Junior Girls race East Down’s trio of Hannah Gilliland, Edie Carroll and Chloe Galloway came 5th 8th and 45th respectively, in another huge field of over 100 runners.
Aoife Cochrane, Ella Carroll, Laura Green and Olivia Mooney were 20th, 48th 64th and 72nd in the Inter Girls race, while Laura Gardiner was 5th in the Senior girls race with Laura Murphy on 42nd.
It was left to James Smyth to represent the East Down boys and he did well to take 36th in the Inter Boys competition.
Well done to everyone – and my apologies if I missed anyone out – but there were hundreds of runners in virtually every race and all deserve credit for bing there doing it – and very successfully too.
ALL IRELAND QUALIFIERS
An added bonus for the Club is that Laura Gardiner, Hannah Gilliland and Edie Carroll have all qualified to go to the All Ireland schools Cross Country Championships in Sligo on 5 March.
THIS WEEKEND
The Senior Cross Country Championships take place this Saturday in Lurgan Park and the unique Last One Standing and Trail races event gets under way at 10.00 am also on Saturday in Castleward.
Joe Quinn
14 February 2016