St Peters AC to the fore at National Cross-Country Championships

One of the biggest days of the Irish athletics season took place in Rosapenna Golf Club, Downings, County Donegal as runners from all parts of Ireland ascended on the Northwest location for the National Senior and even age Juvenile Cross-Country Championship.

The Saint Peter’s Club had six athletes compete with three of them managing to take home medals.

Dearbhla Allen was in action in the girls under sixteen race. The talented athlete managed to put herself in contention for a medal from the early stages and was part of a breakaway group which really strung out the large field.

She then seemed to get swallowed up near the end, but dug deep and with an almighty strong finish managed to finish in eight place, earning herself a top twelve individual medal and a silver team medal as part of the Leinster team.

This capped off a good weekend for Dearbhla having managed to take the Cross-Country Athlete of the Year Award for ages U14-U16 a few days later.

Niamh Brady has been an ever present at National Cross-Country Championships since 2015 and has won several team medals over that time. However, she hadn’t won an Individual medal.

That all changed on Sunday when Niamh got her just desserts for her dedication to her training when she managed to finish in twelfth place, winning a well deserved individual medal and also securing a silver team medal as part of the Leinster team. 

Cian Gorham has been getting stronger and stronger week after week following a long lay off, but on Sunday he went up another level.

The top-class prospect has always applied himself to training and was patient throughout the Cross-Country season, as he built up his fitness level. Last Sunday in Donegal was the first time he looked anything like himself, as he really pushed on through the large field of athletes.

He was really pleased with his performance and got an extra bonus when it was realized that the Leinster team had taken Gold in the U18 Boys inter-provincial competition. Cian was on the scoring six and so became the third St Peter’s athlete to bring a medal home from Donegal.

The club also had three athletes in action in the girls under 14 race as part of the Louth team. Deirbhile Morgan, alongside Emily and Hannah O’Reilly put in a great shift in what was a race steeped in quality.

The girls didn’t look out of place and running in a race of this quality in a National Championship will help develop them as athletes. Unfortunately, Harry O’Reilly was due to run in the boys U16 race, but sustained an injury in the warm-up.

Overall, it was a great event from the Dromiskin based club, who continue to produce plenty of young runners capable of putting it up to the best runners the country has to offer. They are sure to all feature in Senior championships in the years to come.