Birthday to remember for Anna

Birthday to remember for Anna

3 April 2024

EAST Down AC junior Anna Gardiner, together with seven fellow Irish athletes, travelled to the Serbian capital, Belgrade, to compete in the World Cross Country Championships at the weekend. 

An unseasonably hot and sunny day with temperatures reaching 27 degrees, conditions in the city’s Friendship Park made for fast running throughout. 

The course made up of 2K loops and was flat so manmade obstacles of raised inclines, hay bales and manmade muddy sections were used to make it more interesting and more like typical cross-country courses; a far cry from the muddy races over the last cross-country season in Ireland. 

These conditions possibly favoured the East African runners and their class was on show. 

They took all but one of the 27 medals on offer across five races on the day, with Kenya getting 11, Ethiopia securing ten and Uganda notching five. 

Anna’s race was the first race of the day and she lined up with fellow Irish U-20 Kirsty Maher.  

All eager supporters at home tried to find a steaming channel to watch and support from afar. The BBC’s late decision to cover the event was received well but, bizarrely, the female U-20 race was not covered so many had to wait for reports through social media about how the race was going. 

The winner was a virtually unknown 15 year-old Marta Alemayo from Ethiopia, leading home an Ethiopian medal sweep, with Asayech Ayichew and Robe Dida finishing second and third, respectively.

Anna came home in 37th in a time of 21.58, delighted to finish in the top half of the field closely followed by team-mate Kirsty in 40th in 22.10. 

She also was delighted to come ninth in the field of European runners. 

Anna’s first-hand report after the race was the best commentary though.

“I’m not used to that kind of cross country, but it was absolutely brilliant to get to the start line with some of the most incredible runners in the world, l’m really chuffed with it,” said Anna. 

“It was brilliant to have the two of us (Kirsty) working together.” 

She also reported that some previous experience of hurdles, five years previously, was of some use to tackle the hay bales. 

A brilliant performance on the world stage for Anna and she took it in her stride saying she approached the race like ‘any other cross-country race’ and the plan was to enjoy the occasion. Congratulations.

Also a second celebration occurred on the day, as it was Anna’s 18th birthday. What a way to celebrate your 18th birthday.