by Perri Williams
There was an outstanding victory for Freya Renton (Westport AC) at British Cross-Country Challenge held in Leeds today. The event incorporated the Celtic International and Home Countries International ensured Renton of three titles from the one race.
Overall it was England who came out with victories in all the team events, with Ireland second. Leaving minor positions to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Again it was England who took most of the individual honours except for the u17 girls where Ireland’s Freya Renton took the title and the Senior men, where Scotland’s Logan Rees emerged the victor.
U17 Girls and Boys
Freya Renton never looked in doubt of the victory as she pulled away from the early leaders; England’s Ella Rose Whitworth, Isla McGowan and Scotland’s Eilidh Dallas. The Westport AC athlete and multiple Irish Champion finished almost 100m clear of Whitworth, looking fresh and comfortable in her effortless victory. Her twin sister Holly once again shook off the challenge of Lisburn’s Madison Welby as they finished 5th and 6th respectively, just one second separating the pair.
In the Celtic International (which was included as part of the race), it was gold for Freya Renton with her sister Holly taking bronze. Both girls were instrumental in helping Ireland to secure the gold team medal for the Celtic race. The team was completed by Maddison Welby and Beth Ramsbottom. England won the Home Countries event with Ireland second. The Celtic International has always been an excellent development opportunity for young athletes.
The boys u17 saw England take the top four positions with Matthew Clarke storming through to take the title. This left his countrymen Luke Dunham and Myles Fraser to battle it out for silver and bronze, Dunham just dipping ahead of Fraser for silver. The first Irish athlete home was Luke Walsh (South Galway) who finished 3rd at the National u16 Cross-Country in Enniskillen. Walsh was four seconds ahead of Donore’s Charlie O’Neill in 8th. A great run by Luke Merrigan (Leevale) who managed to finish in 12th just one place behind David Wajrak (Portlaoise). In the Celtic International the Irish team won gold. Team Ireland once again finished second to England overall.
U20 Girls and Boys
Our u20 athletes had a bit more of a challenge. Lucy Foster (Willowfield) competing for Northern Ireland was the first Irish athlete home, managing to squeeze into the top ten with her 9th place finish. Foster had an impressive win at the National Junior Championships in Enniskillen, where the margin between herself and the rest of the field was as wide as it could get. Lorraine O’Connor (Clonliffe) competing for Ireland finished in 16th place with Megan Brunt (Blackrock) and Dearbhla Allen (St Peters AC) coming closely behind her in 18th and 20th place. The Irish team was completed by Eimer Cooney (Ace AC) in 23rd. This was Cooney’s seventh Irish vest. The overall winner was Eliza Nicholson (England) who proved too strong for Scotland’s Zaea Redmond over the final 400m. The Irish team finished 3rd in the Celtic International.
Diarmuid Moloney (Nenagh) was the first Irish u20 boy in 11th place. Moloney lost the final battle for a top 10 place with Ewan Bushfield having held him off for most of the second half. He was just a tantalizing one second ahead of the Northern Athletics man. Ryan O’Neill (Rathfarnham) followed in 14th place just four seconds adrift of Moloney. Lagan Valley’s Oisin McGloin led the Northern Ireland team home in 17th place followed by Finn Diver in 23rd. Kilkenny City Harriers had two athletes competing in this race, both securing their first Irish vests. Ruairi McEvoy finished 24th with Callum Barron in 26th. Tom Flemming representing Northern Ireland sandwiched between the two Kilkenny boys in 25th place. Noah Harper completed the Northern Ireland’s line up in 37th position. The overall winner was England Quinn Miel-Ingram from Matthew Pickering and Jake Sevens, giving England a clean sweep of the medals. The Irish team finished second in the Celtic International.
Senior Ladies and Men
It was our u23 athletes that represented Ireland in the Senior events. Roise Roberts (CNDR) was the first Irish senior lady home. The Mark Kirk coached Roberts was 9th having to run the final 1500m on her own. Amy Greene (Finn Valley) who had a magnificent Cross-Country season was next in 18th place. Green along with Roberts along with the third irish lady home; Avril Mellerick (Youghal) also represented Ireland at the European Cross-Country in Turkey last December. England had another clean sweep of the podium with Amelia Quirke having a convincing victory over Jess Gibbon with Mia Waldmann in third.
The men’s race was a bit of a surprise for Ireland, with many positions changing from that of the National Championships line up. Matthew Lavery led the Irish team home in 17th. Following Lavery was Oisin Murray (An Riocht) finishing in 21st. This was Murray’s first Irish vest after a phenomenal improvement in both track and cross-country in 2024. Making a return to the Celtics after an injury hampered his brilliant juvenile career was DSD’s Eanna O’Bradaigh. Cathal O’Rielly (Kilkenny City Harriers) completed the Irish team. O'Rielly was a member of the European Cross Country team that competed in Turkey and along with Lavery represented Ireland at last years Celtic International in Scotland. Making a change from an English winner, it was Scotland’s Logan Rees who sprinted away from England’s James Kingston with the finishing line in sight.
Results (overall)
U17 Girls
1 Freya Renton (Westport) 5 Holly Renton (Westport) 6 Maddison Welby (City of Lisburn) 12 Beth Ramsbottom (Mid Sutton) 13 Abby Smith (Shercock) 17 Rachel Keaney (Newbridge) 19 Emma Stewart (Dromore) 22 Kari Foster (Willowfield)
U17 Boys
6 Luke Walsh (South Galway) 8 Charlie O’Neill (Donore) 11 David Warjrak (Portlaoise) 12 Luke Merrigan (Dev) (Leevale) 15 Jack Mahon (Dev) (St Laurence O’Toole) 16 Ciaran Constadine (South Galway)18 Adam Noone (Dev) (Templeogue) 28 Rory Armstrong (Dev) Lagan Valley
U20 Girls
9 Lucy Foster (Willowfield) NI 16 Lorraine O Connor (Clonliffe) 18 Megan Brunt (Blackrock) 20 Dearbhla Allen (St Peters) 23 Eimear Cooney (Ace AC) 24 Elsa Moore (Lifford Strabane) NI 25 Ana Diver (Beechmount) NI 28 Katie Graham (Lagan Valley) NI
U20 Boys
11 Diarmuid Moloney (Nenagh) 14 Ryan O’Neill (Rathfarnham) 17 Oisin McGloin (Lagan Valley) NI 23 Finn Diver (Beechmount) NI 24 Ruairi McEvoy (Kilkenny City Harriers) 25 Tom Flemming (Loughview AC) NI 26 Callum Barron (Kilkenny City Harriers) 37 Noah Harper (Lagan Valley) NI
Senior Ladies
9 Roise Roberts (CNDR) 18 Amy Greene (Finn Valley) 28 Avril Mellerick (Youghal) 31 Rebecca Rossiter (CNDR)
Senior Men
17 Matthew Lavery (North Belfast Harriers) 21 Oisin Murray (An Riocht) 31 Eanna O’Bradaigh (DSD) 40 Cathal O’Rielly (Kilkenny City Harriers)