from the Munster Express website The second day of the county championships went ahead last Sunday in the Friary, Dungarvan. There was a large turnout from the six clubs in the county and once again KCK enjoyed some super success. Rhuain Mitchell and Gary Cantwell lead the way with individual titles and there was team success with KCK taking two gold and two silver. Individual Bronze for Rena Behan
Rena Behan had a super race to win the U9 girls 500 meters to come 2nd over all she was followed home by Emily Keane who got 4th. They got the sliver team prize with their teammates Jodi Hassett, Elizabeth O’Sullivan, Laura Kirwin, Hanna Mai And Taoi who recently joined the club.
Boys U9
We only had two competitors in this race who both Paraic Hallian and Patrick Morrissey both taking part in their first cross country race for KCK this season.
Girls U11
We had some great runner in the girls U11, with largest field of the day competing. We had Grace Hefferan, Noreen Butler, Grace O’Sullivan, Tara Fitzgerald, Niamh Walsh and Melissa Brazil running over 800 meters to finish a great race for all of them.
Boys U11
Frank Hefferan was once again on par with his KCK club mate Kieran Tobin in the boys U11. Both finished very well.
Girls U13
Alice Gourlay and Laura Brazil were then up for the start. Both ran well over the tough 1000-meter race.
Michael Behan Wins Silver
Michael Behan was once again among the individual medals. Michael took silver in the U13 race to add to his individual and team gold from last weekend. Michael had a great race to finish second and got the sliver team prize too. Stephen Keane, P.J. Coffey, Aaron Whelan and Patrick Kirwin all ran well with Michael over the 1200-meter course.
Erica for Bronze
Erica Kiely was our only runner in the girls U15. She came home in 3rd after a tough and long race to add to her collection from last week.
County title for Rhuain Mitchell
Rhuain Mitchell took his very first county cross-country title in superb fashion in the boys U15 race. After his silver medal last weekend in the U16 race Rhuain stepped up the mark this week in his own age group. Over the first half of the race he open a gap between him and the rest of the field. During the second half of the race he maintained this to finish first.
John Halley Takes 3rd
John Halley enter his first race of the season to come a superb 3rd following quickly in behind Rhuin.
Gold for Boys U15 Team
The boys U15 took the gold team prize with the team of Rhuin Mitchell, Ross Brown, Michael Troy, Lee Maher and John Halley over a very long and wet course.
Double Gold for Gary Cantwell
Gary Cantwell has made it four gold medals in two weekends at the County Championships as yet again he won another county title to add to his U16 title last week. This is three in a row of Gary as it’ this third cross-country county gold in a row. He ran a great race to finish first individually and grab the gold for the team as well
Boys U17 Win Team Gold
Our boys U17 ran the last junior race of the day this did not take away for the performance though. With Gary Cantwell, John N. Fennell, Isaac Lineen, Simon Flynn, Sean Tobin and John Skehan to all finish and get the gold for KCK in the team prize.
Golds galore at County Championships
The cross country season got into full swing once again with the County Championships kicking off what will be a busy few weeks for our athletes. Athletes from the six Waterford clubs took part – KCK, An Gaeltacht, West Waterford, Waterford AC, Ferrybank and Tramore. KCK enjoyed one of its most successful opening day of the championships, with athletes taking three of the ten titles on offer and also three team golds.
Our girls’ U10 team were unlucky to finish just out of the team medals when they finished in 4th place. Rena Behan led the girls home in 13th place, an excellent run.
Young Frank Heffernan was unlucky not to sneak an individual medal in the boys’ U10 race, finishing 4th.
We had three boys competing in the boys’ U12 race. Peter Behan (U11) ran a stormer to take 5th place overall.
Michael Behan produced one of the best runs of his life when he took a convincing victory in the boys U14 2000m race.
Another athlete producing one of their best performances to date was Tom Devine. He put in a super effort and took a well deserved bronze medal.
The KCK boys’ U14 certainly dominated the race with Michael and Tom joined by Ross Browne (5th) and Stephen Keane (8th).
Erica Kiely (girls U16) powered to the line over the closing 500m and came home a comfortable winner.Kate Kiely who had a very good run to take the 11th placing overall.
Gary Cantwell showed his intentions for the season when he took a very impressive victory in the boys U16 race; yet again another county title for him. An U15, Rhuain Mitchell’s strong closing 500m proved decisive in his silver medal win.
KCK’s dominance in the boys’ events continued the club scored a very convincing team win, with its first four athletes finishing in the top 6, the others being newcomer Johnny Skehan (Kilmeaden, 5th) and Isaac Lineen (6th).
John Nicholas took the silver individual medal in the U18 4000m race.
Newcomer James Fogarty, competing in only his second race for the club had a great afternoon, taking his first individual county medal, a bronze.
The boys’ U18 team, with John Nicholas and James Fogarty joined by Simon Flynn (4th) and Sean Tobin (5th), also won gold.
Training
Training continues every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 6pm in Lemybrien GAA Field. As always beginners are most welcome to attend.
Munster Championships Kick Off
The cross-country season will step up a notch next Sunday with the holding of the Munster Even Age Cross Country Championships. It will take place in Turnpike, Thurles, Co. Tipp, with first race at 12noon sharp.
The following are the athletes entered to run: Tara Fitzgerald, Frank Hefferan, Laura Brazil, Grace Hefferan, Peter Behan, Alice Gourlay, Kelly Mansfield, Michael Behan, Stephen Keane, Tom Divine, Lee Maher, Colm James, Liam Mulligan, Ross Browne, Michael Troy, Erica Kiely, Kate Kiely, Gary Cantwell, Isaac Lineen, Rhuain Mitchell, Johnny Skehan, James Fogarty, Sean Tobin, John N Fennell.
Fixtures
Looking further ahead in the cross country racing calendar:
Munster Championships Uneven Ages – November 9th – Cooraclare, Co. Clare
County ‘B’ Championships – November 16th – Dungarvan
All-Ireland Even Ages – November 23rd – Tramore Racecourse
Munster ‘B’ Championships – November 30th – Cork
All-Ireland Uneven Ages – December 7th