by Perri Williams
The countdown is on to the biggest cross-country event on the domestic calendar this year. The National Senior, u23, u20 and even age juvenile cross-country will be held on Castle Irvine Estate outside of Enniskillen this coming Sunday. For u20s, 23s and seniors’ there may be places on the Irish team for the impending European Cross-Country in Turkey. For the older juveniles, it is a shot at making the Irish team for the Celtic International to be held after Christmas. We will look at the u20 and u23 in this preview and the Senior and Juveniles in a preview tomorrow.
U20 Ladies
The u20 ladies will feature two members of the 2023 Irish team that competed at the Euro-cross in Brussels last December; Kirsty Maher (Moy Valley) and Avril Mellerick (Youghal). Maher is a consistent runner. She finished 12th in Brussels and then went on to take 4th place at the Celtic International in Scotland in January before claiming 39th at the World Cross Country in Serbia in February. However, she has not raced this season, leaving a question over her current form. Millerick on the other hand has shown some considerable improvements, running a fast-opening leg at the road relay’s last week and finishing sixth at the recent intervarsity cross-country in Cork. Absent from this year’s nationals is Anna Gardiner who is the reigning 2023 champion. Gardiner currently on scholarship at Providence College, is due to compete in this weekend’s Regional Championships, hoping to secure NCAA qualification, with one of the most competitive providence teams in a few years. Emily Bolton (Clonliffe Harriers) has been racing well all season and as is customary for Bolton, she will challenge for a podium position. Running well this season too is Dearbhla Allen (St Peter’s) who finished 3rd in the Autumn Open and has been impressive in all her Leinster Cross-Country wins. Behind her Clodagh Gill could be in the mix. Do not discount the local athlete Annabelle Morrisson who should conjure up some fantastic local support to drive her on. Expect a good run too from Lagan Valley’s Eva Bartlett. With the distance reduced to 4,500m this will certainly help 800m runner Pia Langton (KCH) who finished well up in the Autumn Open. But can she do enough?
Lagan Valley look to have a great team, strengthened by the recent good form of Eva Bartlett. Though Moy Valley will be aided by Kirsty Maher and Clodagh Gill. Willowfield with three Foster’s, Emily Morris and Emer McKee might just fancy their chances too. With Emily Bolton at the helm can Clonliffe do enough? Or could Mullingar be the one to sneak past the latter two? It certainly will be a cracking race for those top two team placings.
U20 Men
The u20 boys will be an exciting race. Sean Quinn (DSD) is surely the favourite for the title after his impressive win at both the Autumn Open and the Dublin Championships. At the IUAA road relays Quinn held back over the final few hundred meters and still recorded an impressive time. Jonas Stafford (UCD) was 10th in last year’s European Cross-Country and will surely be out to record a higher placing this year. Stafford carried an injury for the track season and was defeated at the u20 track and field steeplechase by Quinn, who pulled off a phenomenal double to win the 5000m shortly afterwards. A surprise might come in the form of Cillian Gleeson (Celbridge) who has been training with Dublin Track Club all year and had a terrific performance in the European u18 3000m in July. Like his Dublin Track Club teammate, Gleeson has not yet raced any cross-country competition this season and will be hungry to prove his position. Ahead of Gleeson at the u18 race was Noah Harris who finished 4th in Europe that day. Harris went out hard in the Autumn Open and blew up but held on for second. He will have learned a few lessons from his racing and will no doubt come back more strategic in his approach.
Lughaidh Mallon (UCD) and David Williams (Kilkenny City Harriers) fought a great dual at the Autumn Open, with Williams out injured Mallon could be destined for a euro cross place. However the person to stop him might be his fromer clubmate Frank McGrath (Lagan Valley) who finished 3rd in the u18 nationals in Donegal two years ago. Hot on their heals will be the Ulster champion Caolan McFaddan. The Donegal man is a great championship racer and finished 7th at last years u20 race in Gowran. One notable absence is Cormac Dixon (Tallaght) who like Gardiner is based in Providence and set to compete with the college at this weekend’s Regionals. Dixon has had a great season so far and could take one of the discretionary spots.
Behind these athletes, there is Billy Coogan (Kilkenny City Harriers) now in Iona, Harry Colbert (Waterford AC), Sean Lawton (Durrus) now back from injury along with Cian Hodgkins (Nenagh) and Gearoid Long (St Senans). Add in some of the local Enniskillen talent who may perform better on home territory – the u20 men’s race is certainly one to watch.
In terms of team’s Kilkenny City Harriers looked good for gold, however without David Williams, their strength is a little weakened. They could still make it past the post ahead of Lagan Valley. The Belfast club will be without Lughaidh Mallon who is on scholarship with UCD and thus obligated to run in the UCD singlet. Though DSD, Clonliffe and Nenagh may fancy their chances too.
U23 Ladies
The u23 ladies could see Hannah Gilliland (Annadale) land her a surprise slot. Gilliland ran a superb leg at last weeks IUAA road relays. Running well at the moment are the DSD pair of Emma McEvoy and Eimear Maher. McEvoy was impressive at the road relays, taking UCD back into the hunt for gold. While the depth in this age group may not be as strong as we would like, there are some incredible girls who might prove there is nothing like experience to help you out when you need it. Take for example Amy Greene (Finn Valley), Roise Roberts (CNDR Track Club), Hannah Keogh (Kilkenny City Harriers), Rebecca Rossiter (CNDR Track Club), Lucy Holmes (West Waterford AC), all well capable of producing the goods when it counts. One lady to watch out for is Alex Murphy (Suncroft) who is having somewhat of a revival from her excellent juvenile career. Missing will be Laura Mooney, Anika Thompson and Meabh Richardson all of whom are competing in the Regionals with their colleges.
U23 Men
The men’s u23 will be boosted by Nick Griggs who produced that massive 5km run last weekend. Griggs will be one of the favourites to take the u23 title. Although weighing on his mind will be his performance in Gowran last year where he was unable to finish the race. Callum Morgan also of CNDR track club won’t be too far behind as he has had an impressive season. Nial Murphy (Ennis Track) is a tough competitor, finishing 7th in last year’s u20 European Cross-Country. Murphy was one place behind Morgan at the IUAA championships last month, he will be keen to avenge that defeat. Oisin Murray (An Riocht) had an impressive run that day, and along with Paul Hartnett (East Cork) will keep plenty of athletes on their toes. However it will be Cathal O’Rielly (KCH) who should challenge for a place on the team. O’Rielly was a member of the Junior Euro-Cross medal winning team in Dublin a few years back and just lost out by one place on making the u23 team last year. Another athlete who has been making his mark this season and could make an indent into these slots has been Tullamore’s Michael Murphy. Murphy has vastly improved this season and has his eye on a slot for Turkey. A stint at altitude earlier this season may help pave that way. A good run at the recent Leinster Senior certainly proves his form. Knocking on all their doors will be Sean McGinley, who on a good day has the ability, though will have to move it up a notch or two on Sunday. So too will Mark Hanrahan (Ennis Track) and Daniel Ellis Ryan (Nenagh), the latter who has started to improve in recent weeks. Missing are Tadgh Donnelly (Drogheda and District), Shane Brosnan (An Riocht) and Dean Casey (Ennis Track) who are based in the USA and have commitments to the Regional Championships this weekend.