Brendan leads way for locals

Brendan leads way for locals

25 January 2012

INTERNATIONAL stars descended on Greenmount campus for the annual IAAF International Cross-Country on Saturday in near perfect cross-country weather..

Last year, runners contended with a bone hard frozen ground and freezing fog, this year it was shin-deep mud in places with the bright sunshine overhead only occasionally broken by the sleety rain driven on gale force gusts of wind.

European Cross-Country champion Fionnuala Britton logged another victory over arch rival Gemma Steel in a closely fought head-to-head contest which was only decided in the last 600 metres.

But it was the U-13 girls who had the best of the conditions, getting to run the course before it was churned into a quagmire. Aoife Cochrane and Eimear Connor found the going tough, but stuck to their task to complete creditably in 35th and 40th places, respectively, in a top class field.

The U-15 girls saw a gutsy performance from Ellen Erskine, who had to battle for two laps of the 1800 metre course and finished in 34th place.

Big brother Paddy finished two places better in the boys’ equivalent, running

a finely judged race throughout. The highlight of the day, however, came in the boys primary school race where Tim Prenter placed a splendid fourth just ahead of the ever improving Caoilin Quinn in seventh with Andrew and Matthew McGrattan, Johnny Erskine and Padraig Rogan fairly flying home close behind.

Had there been a team prize for this event then the East Down lads would have won it hands down.

But perhaps these performances proved the perfect inspiration for the senior men over a gruelling 10.8 kilometre distance which saw many talented club runners almost reduced to a walk by the finish.

Brendan Teer again led the East Down squad home and could be pleased with his 42nd position in the muscle-wrenching conditions. Ryan Hagen (inset right) and Mark McDowell were next from the county town club to finish with Declan Teague and Michael McKeown (inset left) just 50 seconds and four places apart at the line.

The Kenyans once again dominated the event with last year’s winner Mike Kigen powering to a third win with St. Malachy’s Joe McAllister the best of the local runners in a tremendous 12th place in a field of 136 runners, over 100 more than last year, evidence that the new Cross-Country League is having a positive effect on the current season’s numbers.

All but the top 25 were lapped, some twice, by the high class athletes at the front but there is no shame in that, all deserved credit for finishing on a course which could easily have finished them. Brave and tenacious efforts by all involved.

This weekend sees the Racecourse Rollercoaster races, beginning at 12 noon with Primary Schools’ races followed by age group races at U-13, U-15 and U-17 level climaxing with the senior race over 25 furlongs at 2pm in the unique setting of Downpatrick racecourse.

This is not a cross-country event as all the races take place on the perimeter road

so there will be no wet or muddy feet to contend with and while there are neither hurdles nor fences to negotiate they are not flat races either.

Entries for all races will be taken on the day. Online entry for Jimmy’s Ten will be available from next weekend too.