CON DOHERTY QUALIFIES FOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND WESTPORT AC WINS 4 INDIVIDUAL AND 2 CLUB TEAM ALL-IRELAND MEDALS
Westport AC travelled in large numbers recently to the Woodie’s DIY National Even Age Cross Country Championships at Santry Demesne in Dublin.  The weather remained mild and our juvenile athletes were privileged to witness some marvellous performances from Irelands elite athletes such as Fionnuala Britton (Kilcoole AC).

The first race of the day was the U12 girls 2000m where Saoirse O’Brien took the first individual medal of the day coming home in 7th position, also leading the Connaught team to a bronze medal. Annie Noonan also ran in this huge field of 183 runners, all qualified from provincial championships.

Next up were the U12 boys team where Cillian Heaney ran a superb race coming 9th and leading his team home with the silver medal at 110 points, a huge 61 points ahead of St Laurence O’Toole AC in 3rd place.  Cillian was followed by his teammates Ronan O’Donnell, Rossa McAllister, Malcolm McEvilly, Oisin Ryall, Conor Galvin, Joe Grady and Tommy Scahill, all of whom trained hard and well deserved their win.

In the U14 boys 3000m, the Westport team was led home by Aaron Doherty in 8th place, followed by Cian McAllister in 13th(missing out on an individual medal by only one place), Luke Dawson, Patrick Chambers and Marley Hoban, all contributing to a team total of 109 and a club bronze for these hard working boys.  Their fine performances also contributed to the county winning the bronze medal.

The performance of the day must go to Con Doherty who ran in the Junior Mens race storming home in 4th place and ensuring qualification for the upcoming European Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia on December 8th, an enormous achievement for Con.

Other fine performances of the day came from Ellen Noonan in the U14 girls, Aoife O’Brien and Sorcha McAllister in the U16 girls and Shane Gavin in the U16 boys, competing in his first ever All-Ireland.

The National Uneven Cross Country will be held in Waterford IT on Sunday, December 15th.
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