Leinster Schools Cross Country - 12 Feb 2014

Heavy overnight rain ensured that the course in Santry Demesne was testing for the Leinster schools cross country championships. Interest, from a Ratoath athletic club perspective, centred on the senior girls & intermediate boys races.

Deirdre Healy ran another cracking race with a close up fourth place finish behind Siofra Cleirigh Buttner, Sarah Fitzpatrick and and Ella Fennelly. Deirdre started cautiously and was 7th going into the last lap but put in a very strong finish to catch Linda Conroy and Isobelle Odlum on the run to the line. The fact that the first six athletes in this race have all competed internationally, demonstrates the strength in depth in this age group.

The intermediate boys race over 4500m was another exciting affair with up to 10 athletes still in contention going into the last lap. This included our own Alex Hunter who briefly held the lead on the last lap but  had to settle for 11th behind  the eventual winner Shane Hughes from Mullingar. Philip Marron and Ciaran McCarthy (despite getting spiked) both ran very positive races and finished 16th and 51st. Philip had particular hard luck as the first 15 athletes qualify for the All Ireland in Cork next month but both he and Alex are eligible to run in this race again next year.