by Ciarán Mac Giolla Phádraig The best emerging talent in the country will be opening their cross country seasons this weekend as Ballyfin Junior-Cross ‘09 prepares to welcome the crème de la crème of Irish athletics. With the post track season break now forgotten, all eyes will be on Emo Court, Co. Laois where the top juniors will battle for early-season supremacy. With Ireland hosting the European Championships in December, this season could prove to be one of the most exciting in recent years.
The junior women’s 2km race at 1pm promises to be one of the most competitive races in the country this year with Tekea Gebrezgi the latest big name confirmed for the event. Gebrezgi finished a remarkable 15th at the World Mountain Running Championships earlier this month and she will now test herself against top runners such as Eimear Black, Ciara Everard, Mary Mulhare, Mary-Ann O’Sullivan, Joanne Mills, Catherina Mullen and Eva Laverty.
The junior men’s 4km race at 1.20pm looks set to be headed by track specialist Paul Robinson and a member of last year’s European Championship team, Patrick Flynn. Ryan Creech and Liam Brady will also be looking to make an impact.
The lucrative prizes on offer to individuals and teams should ensure top class competition all around. With Irish team manager Anne Keenan-Buckley on hand to present the individual prizes the top juniors will be keen to impress as the build up for the European Championships in Santry gets underway.
Race details
Saturday 19 September
Emo Court, Co. Laois
Junior Ladies 2km 1:00pm
Junior Men 4km 1:20pm
All athletes need to register at least 30 minutes before their event.
For those who have not already entered, the entry fee on the day will be 10 Euro.
This event has an AAI permit.
Individual prizes (presented by Irish Team Manager Anne Keenan-Buckley):
Junior Men 4km, 1.20pm:
1st 100 EUR
2nd 50 EUR
3rd 25 EUR
Junior Women 2km, 1pm:
1st 100 EUR
2nd 50 EUR
3rd 25 EUR
Team prizes:
Junior Ladies (3 to score)
1st: 90 Euro (sponsored by Airboran Travel)
2nd: 60 Euro (sponsored by Rogerson Reddan)
3rd: 60 Euro (sponsored by Physio Plus)
Junior Men (3 to score)
1st: 90 Euro (sponsored by Physio Plus)
2nd: 60 Euro (sponsored by Rogerson Reddan)
3rd: 60 Euro (sponsored by Donncha Phelan)
Special prizes courtesy of our sponsors:
Best performances by Laois athletes:
1st: Meal for 2 at The Cedarooms, The Killeshin Hotel (sponsored by The Killeshin)
2nd: Osteopathic Treatment (sponsored by Donncha Phelan)
3rd: Osteopathic Treatment (sponsored by Donncha Phelan)
4th: Osteopathic Treatment (sponsored by Donncha Phelan)
5th: Shaws Gift Voucher worth 20 Euro (sponsored by Shaws Department Stores)
6th: Shaws Gift Voucher worth 20 Euro (sponsored by Shaws Department Stores)
For further information contact race director Cormac Fitzpatrick at 086 836 6561, or e-mail info@ballyfincrosscountry.com