from the Donore Harriers website Today saw the opening race of the Dublin cross country season with the Dublin Novice XC Championships held in the Phoenix Park and hosted by Donore Harriers. Like recent years gone by the weather was mild and sunny with conditions underfoot pretty firm and dry.
There were only two races on the card both staged over a 1,500 metre lap which provided a few short but testing little hills. The Women’s 3K started off proceedings at 1pm and Donore fielded 10 athletes to make up 2 teams. Many of them taking part were wearing the Donore vest for the first time and acquitted themselves very well. Debutant Alisa Cotter ran a great race working her way through the field to finish as Donore’s first home in 4th place (11.09). Maura Kearns finished 6th with Mairead Kirby, another debutant, finishing in 8th place. Aoife Rickard was the 4th Donore finisher placing 25th and secured a bronze team medal for the Donore first team. Sinead McAuley finished 29th with Michele O’Hogan close behind in 30th. Marianne Dunleavy was 39th, Claire Doyle 41st, Jennifer O’Keefe 48th and Mary Murphy 53rd.
The women’s race was won by Fiona McKenna (10.52) of DSD with Lorraine Byrne (11.06) of Raheny Shamrock AC 2nd and Aoife Joyce Crusaders AC A (11.08) 3rd. Team Results DSD 1st (31points), Crusaders AC AC 2nd (38 points) and Donore (39 points).
In the mens race our own John Travers was pre-race favourite to take the title and didn’t disappoint, leading from gun to tape. John ran a solid, effortless race over the 6K course opening up a commanding 48 second lead over 2nd placed athlete Emmet Jennings of DSD and finishing in 18.28. Eoin Durkan ran a solid race finishing in 5th place as did debutant David Heffernan finishing in 7th. Ken Nugent ran another great race and was our next man home but unfortunately was on the B team so Fergal Swaine scored as 4th Donore (A) man finishing in 19th place. Jevgevnijs Nemiro finished 30th, Simon Meyler 31st, Jonathan Daly 39th and Michael Rickard 44th. A great team performance saw us take the silver team medal.
Individual 2nd place went to Emmet Jennings of DSD running 19.14 with Louis McCarthy (Rathfarnham WSAF A) 3rd in 19.21. Team title went to Rathfarnham WSAF A with 30 points, Donore Harriers A 2nd with 32 points and Clonliffe AC 3rd with 52 points.