From Athletic Northern Ireland Wednesday 15th October kicked off the first round of the ANI Primary Schools Cross Country League. The first race took place at Cedar Integrated Primary School in Crossgar with over 40 young athletes taking part. Co. Down
The girl’s race was first off with a 1 1/2 lap (1000m) race. It was lead by Sinead Conlon (Kilmaine PS) for the first 300m then Harriett Gilmore (Cedar IPS) took the lead. With 700m gone it was Alice leading followed by Sinead then 3 more Cedar runners. Harriett increased her lead all the way to the finish line, followed by Bethany Williamson Cedar IPS and the early leader Sinead Conlon Kilmaine PS.
The boy’s race started shortly after the girls finished. Callum Crawford Walker (cedar IPS) took the lead from the start, with a close mixed pack following. With 500m gone Callum started to stretch out his lead from the chasing pack. In the last 300m Callum had over a 20meter lead followed by Niall Bell (Cedar IPS), then Chris Pierpoint, Kai Jenkins (Kilmaine PS) and Brian Macklin (Cedar IPS). At the finish Callum Cedar IPS was 1st, Niall Cedar IPS 2nd and in 3rd Chris Kilmaine PS.
Co. Armagh
Thursday 16th October was another dry day for Co. Armagh’s first round of the cross country league. This race was held in picturesque grounds of Lurgan Park. Both races were 1 lap (1000m) each. It was a bit muddy underfoot from the previous night’s rain by it didn’t seem to faze any of the aspiring athletes.
The girls race went off fast with 49 taking part. By half way there was a clear leader Rebecca Getty (Friends Prep) with a mixed chasing group of 5 runners. Coming over the top of the hill and down towards the finish Rebecca had over a 10m lead on Bethan Harding & Jasmine Kirkwood (Wallace Prep). Rebecca Getty Friends Prep was 1st followed by Bethan Harding Wallace Prep in 2nd and Jasmine Kirkwood Wallace Prep in 3rd.
The boy’s race also had a great entry with 49 taking part. When the whistle when there was a mighty charge for the first 200m before the group started to spread out. Again form about half way there was a clear leader, Tom Baird (Wallace Prep) with about 7 runners following in a chasing group. Coming over the last hill towards the finish line Jake Gilpin (Hart Memorial PS) was closing the gap on leader Tom. Tom was able to keep his lead to the finish with Jake Gilpin Hart Memorial PS in 2nd and Luke Jardine Bridge IPS in 3rd.
Co. Antrim
Friday 17th October was Co. Antrim’s first round of the cross country league which was held in the Grove Playing Fields, Belfast.
With 41 taking part in the girls race it was a fast start from the keen runners. Coming up the last hill with around 200m to go there was a clear leader, Zoe Carruthers (Pond Park PS), Next over the hill was Madison Bowyer (Finaghy PS) followed by Anna Wilson (Ben Madigan Prep) and Antiorette Leonard (Our Lady of Lourdes PS). Zoe Carruthers Pond Park PS was 1st in a very fast time 3min 40sec followed by Madison Bowyer Finighy PS in 4min 06sec then Anna Wilson Ben Madigan Prep in 4min 10sec.
The boys race had 44 runners. Again with a fast start over the first 200m it was hard to pick a clear leader. Coming over the last hill with 200m to go there was a lead group of 5 runners. Then William Davis (Ben Madigan Prep) took the lead and stayed there until the finish. Ronan O’Fril Our Lady of Lourds PS was 2nd followed by Mohanned Elamin Finaghy PS in 3rd.
Congratulations to all those who took part in the first round of the ANI Primary Schools Cross Country League and we look forward to seeing you in December for the second round.
Full results of Round 1 available. https://www.niathletics.org