Lizzie Lee won her fifth senior county cross country title in a row today at the new county cross country course in Riverstick. Lizzie, just back from her honeymoon, comfortably led the Leevale team to victory. Sinead O’Connor finished in 4th place, Annette Quaid in 5th and Aisling Moran 8th.
Conor Walter won the junior men’s race in impressive style. He used his track speed to kick for home with 600m to go and the field had no response. Leevale won the team event with Philip Crowley 5th, TJ Hogan 5th and Brandon Malone 7th.
Ben Thistlewood is probably the first Canadian to win the senior county cross country title, which he retained for Leevale. Ben ran with the three East Cork athletes for most of the race and with 600m to go he kicked for home, pulling away to win in impressive style. The Leevale team were second overall, just pipped by East Cork, with Colm Sheehan 6th, Eric Curran 8th and Thomas Maunsell 9th.
The competing Leevale athletes wore black arm-bands as a mark of respect to the late Liam Horgan. They certainly did him proud today with three individual wins, two team wins and a team second.
Photos by Gearóid Ó Laoi.
