The Aviva Irish Schools’ Cross Country Championships takes place in the University of Ulster, Jordanstown this Saturday, 9th of March. This annual fixture is the culmination of six weeks of competition for the country’s best young schools’ athletes.
They have progressed from their regional qualifiers, and through their provincial championships to reach the prestigious Aviva All Ireland Schools Championships.
Sean Tobin (High School Clonmel) has been in tremendous form over the country and will start as the favourite to win the senior boys’ title. Tobin showed excellent form recently when he romped to victory at the National Inter Club Cross Country Championships in Tullamore on 24th February.
Aaron Hanlon (St Mary’s Drogheda) was an impressive winner of the Leinster Schools title and if he can replicate that form in Jordanstown he will be one to watch. Maxl Walmsley – Pledl (Royal School Armagh), Andrew Wright (Grosvenor Grammar) and Ryan Sharkey (Methodist College Belfast) all had good runs at provincial level and will undoubtedly have their eyes fixed on the podium.
Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (Colaiste Iosagain) will start as the favourite to win the senior girls’ title. Siofra has an unprecedented winning record at schools level and will hope to continue this winning streak on Saturday. Yasmin Wilson (Ballyclare HS) was an impressive winner of the Ulster title closely followed by Sara Moore (Sacred Heart College, Omagh). Both girls will no doubt aim to translate this form to national level.
Paddy Robb (St Malachy’s Belfast AC) stormed to victory in the Inter Boys race at the Ulster Schools’ Championships, ahead of second place athlete Shane McGowan (St Columb’s Derry). Pierre Murchan (St Declan’s CBS) has been in great form all season over the country and will be confident of making a big impression in the battle for the Inter Boys’ title. Kevin Mulcaire (St Flannan’s Ennis) is another athlete rounding into top shape and is one to watch over the 5,000m distance.
Sarah Fitzpatrick (Our Lady Terenure) won the Inter Club title on February 24th and will start as the slight favourite to take the inter girl’s title. On that occasion in Tullamore she battled it out with Isabelle Odlum (Rathdown School) in a thrilling sprint finish and both athletes will renew rivalry on Saturday. Clodagh O’Reilly (Loreto College Cavan) and Zoe Carruthers (Friends School, Lisburn) both performed brilliantly at regional level and will undoubtably take this confidence through to the weekend with the added benefit of competiting at a local venue.
Siofra O’Flaherty (St Leo’s Carlow) is an emerging talent in the junior category and is expected to do well this weekend. Madison Bowyer (Methodist College Belfast) will be hoping to repeat her Ulster success when she takes to the start line and will definitely be one to watch. Fearghal Curtin (Midleton CBS), Cormac Dalton (St Joseph’s Rochfortbridge) and Christy Conlon (Rathmore Grammar School) are all strong contenders and will no doubt give it their all as they battle it out for the junior boys’ title.
There will be great battles in the team events where all the young athletes will be running for their schools and team-medals.
The action gets underway on Saturday at 12 noon with the minor girl’s race and concludes with the senior boy’s race at 14.40.