Mark Keneally finally strikes Gold! Mark Kenneally of Clonliffe Harriers yesterday delivered an impressive front
running performance in the senior men’s race at the Woodie’s DIY Inter Club
Cross Country Championships in Dublin’s Phoenix Park -winning what was his
first national gold medal.
Kenneally, who works as a physiotherapist, was in control at the front from
an early stage and finished strongly in 34 minutes 37 seconds for the 12,000
meters course-fourteen seconds clear of Gary Thornton of Galway City
Harriers who placed second and Gary Murray of St Malachy’s, 35.06.
Kenneally had the added satisfaction of leading his Clonliffe Harriers
clubmates to team victory (33 points) ahead of Raheny Shamrock A.C, (52)and
DSD, (87).
"It is a great feeling to have finally won a national title after winning
silver on seven previous occasions at cross country and track" Kenneally
said.
"My coach, Mark Carroll, had advised me not to go up front too early in the
race, but I ran as I felt on the day and I am chuffed to bits to have won
the national title."
Kenneally admitted to having felt a bit under pressure coming into the race.
"I had a bad run in Armagh a week ago and so I did feel the pressure in the
build up to the nationals," he said. "I felt that pressure a bit in the race
up to about half way but in the end it was just very satisfying to win."
The Clonliffe runner has his sights set on a big performance in the European
Track & Field Championships in Barcelona this summer. "I will travel to
America next month for a block of training and while there I will run in
some track events- especially the 10,000 meters- the event I
want to run in Barcelona."
There was a solo performance too in the senior women’s race where Linda
Byrne of Dundrum South Dublin A.C coasted to victory in 27.10 for the 8,000m
event.
The DSD woman raced into an early lead and was never challenged. Siobhan
O’Doherty of Borrisokane A.C placed second in 28.11 and masters runner,
Annette Kealy of Raheny Shamrock A.C took the bronze medal in 28.15. DSD won
the club team title with 50 points from North Belfast, 54 and Sportsworld,
58.
This was Linda Byrne’s first national inter club senior title. Byrne, who is
studying for her Masters Degree at DCU, was always confident of victory and
like Mark Kenneally, may also concentrate on 10,000m during the track
season.
"I had raced well in the build up to today’s event and I am delighted to
have won the title," she said.
Siofra Clerigh Buttner of Dundrum South Dublin Athletic Club led the field a
merry dance in the junior women’s race and came home a clear winner, only to
be disqualified when it was discovered that at 14, she was too young to
compete in this competition over 6,000 meters.
The slightly built DSD woman will not turn 15 until July of this year and
the rules of entry to the junior championship states that athletes must be
16 years in the year of competition.
It is understood that Clerigh Buttner was not on the original DSD team sheet
as club officials understood that she was not eligible for the event. She
was however added to the team on the morning of the race by her coach, Eddie
McDonagh, who made a name change to the original team selection.
Following on from an objection that was lodged, Mary Mulhare of North Laois
AC was declared the winner of the championship. Ciara Dullaghan of Lagan
Valley took the silver medal and Niamh Denny of DSD was awarded the bronze
medal. DSD won the team title with 21 points from Raheny Shamrock A.C. 46,
and North Laois, 56.
It was a day of special celebration for host club Donore Harriers when their
young star athlete John Travers powered to victory in the junior men’s event
over 8,000m in 24.17- well clear of Brian Tremble, (Metro/StBrigid’s), 24.42
and Emmet Jennings, (DSD), 25.07.
This was the highlight and most competitive event of the day and it took a
special effort by John Travers to deliver the gold medal.
Travers, who was running with a dislocated shoulder sustained recently while
playing indoor football, for a long time tracked race leader Shane Quinn of
Ferrybank A.C. Quinn looked strong and assured as he strode out in front
setting a lively pace, but he ran into difficulties on the final lap and
dropped out in distress when Travers caught him and sprinted into the lead
with a lap remaining.
Travers, who is coached at Donore Harriers by former national inter club
senior champion John Downes, came home to a huge cheer from spectators. He
finished in 24.17 ahead of Liam Tremble, 24.42 and Emmet Jennings, 25.07
and took some time at the finish to savour his victory.
"Once I caught Shane Quinn I felt confident of victory and it feels really
great to have been able to win the race that has been organised by my club,
Donore Harriers, Travers said. "I dislocated my shoulder while playing
football, but I decided to wait and get it sorted out until the end of the
cross country season. I have one more race next week in the All Ireland
Schools Cross Country Championships in Cork. After that, I will get the
problem fully sorted. I did not want to be making any excuses coming into
today’s event and so only a few people would have known about the problem
which really does not bother me much when I run."
