It was a very busy weekend in athletics, both locally and internationally. The highlight was surely the European Cross Country Championships where Wicklow’s Fionnuala Britton took gold for Ireland in the women’s race. There was a great performance also from Joe Sweeney in the men’s race, eventually finishing 5th after initially looking like he might hold on for 2nd. Great times indeed for Irish cross country running! Also in the men’s race, Mark Hanrahan of Leevale had a good run to finish 50th, 4th scorer on the Irish team that finished 6th.
At home, the AAI National Novice & Juvenile Uneven Ages Cross Country Championships took place in Kildare with several Leevale athletes in action. Full details here.
Apart from that, there was no shortage of action with half-marathons taking place in both Waterford and Clonakilty, the Floodlit Cross Country and Schools Invitational Cross Country, both at CIT, and the annual BHAA Turkey Trot on the Marina circuit.
Philip Crowley had a good win at the Floodlit Cross Country, while Lizzie Lee took the honours at the half-marathon in Clonakilty. Cillian Ó Tuama was top Leevale finisher at the Waterford event in 7th, while Carmel Parnell won the ladies’ race and the Turkey Trot and Donal Coffey took 2nd in the men’s race.
3rd annual Floodlit Cross Country, CIT, Fri 9 Dec 2011, 6:30 pm
Men’s 5K
| 1 | Philip Crowley | 17:11 | |
| 2 | Tim O’Donoghue | 17:13 | |
| 3 | Roy Fahy | 17:32 |
Women’s 3K
| 1 | Caoimhe Casey | 13:13 | |
| 2 | Clare Crowley | 14:14 | |
| 3 | Emer O’Connell | 15:09 |
Cork Schools Invitational Cross Country Leg 2, CIT, Sat 10 Dec 2011
Full results
Report
Clonakilty Half-Marathon, Sat 10 Dec 2011, 9:00 am
| 1 | Sergiu Ciobanu | 1:09:33 | |
| 2 | Philip Harty | 1:11:11 | |
| 3 | Stephen Cleary | 1:16:46 | |
| 1F | Lizzie Lee | Leevale AC | 1:22:34 |
| 2F | Carmel Crowley | Bandon AC | 1:23:03 |
| 3F | Angela McCann | Clonmel AC | 1:23:09 |
Clonakilty Marathon, Sat 10 Dec 2011, 9:00 am
| 1 | Keith Whyte | 2:44:18 | |
| 2 | Peter Mooney | 2:46:30 | |
| 3 | Torben Dahl | 2:51:49 | |
| 115 | John Hallahan | Leevale AC | 3:49:56 |
Clon photos from Gearóid Ó Laoi.
Waterford AC Half-Marathon, Sat 10 Dec 2011, 12:00 pm
| 1 | Gary O’Hanlon | Clonliffe Harriers AC | 1:07:41 |
| 2 | Brian Murphy | Carrick on Suir AC | 1:08:12 |
| 3 | Michael Herlihy | North Cork AC | 1:08:37 |
| 4 | Mick Clohissey | Raheny Shamrock AC | 1:09:58 |
| 5 | Niall Sheil | St. Killian’s AC | 1:12:10 |
| 6 | Dzintars Klava | West Waterford AC | 1:13:08 |
| 7 | Cillian Ó Tuama | Leevale AC | 1:14:47 |
| 8 | Ciaran Giblin | 1:15:00 | |
| 1F | Gladys Ganiel | North Belfast Harriers | 1:17:22 |
| 2F | Jill Hodgins | 1:20:53 | |
| 3F | Sinéad Ní Chonchubhair | Eagle AC | 1:21:40 |
BHAA\Cork Simon Community 4 Mile Turkey Trot, Marina, Sun 11 Dec 2011 11:00 am
| 1 | Mike Yelverton | 22:20 | |
| 2 | Donal Coffey | 22:22 | |
| 3 | John Malone | 22:42 | |
| 1F | Carmel Parnell | 25:23 |