On a bright
and dry Autumn day in Cabinteeley Park last Sunday, Aisling Johnston
and Robert Fitzsimons were the toast of Tallaght AC, when both,
crossed the line first to claim individual titles, in the Dublin
Juvenile Uneven Age Cross Country Championships.
Competing
on a course that contained all the requirements for good cross country
running, and against quality athletes from most of the clubs in the
City and County, they both combined all of their stamina, strength,
speed and tactical skills, to win their races and lead their fellow
club runners to team medals and qualification to the National
Championships.
Aisling
contested the U15 1500m event and from the gun positioned herself to
the front of a group that included three DSD athletes, two
Celtic/Dublin City Harriers runners and team mates, Rebecca Game Jade
Corcoran and Roisin O’ Hanlon, with Ciara O’ Leary a little
further back in the main field. At
about the 700m mark, on the steepest and winding section of the course
she began to open a gap on her rivals, with DSD athlete, Sinead Denny
giving her most to do until the final 200m, when she out kicked her to
claim her 7th Dublin Cross Country title, having won the
U14 in 2004, both the U13 and 14 in 2003, the U12 and U13 in 2002 and
the U10 in 2001.
.Her Tallaght
team mates all had excellent runs, with Jade Corcoran, conceding a
year to many of the other competitors, taking an individual medal in 6th,
Rebecca Game also winning an individual medal in 8th and
Roisin O’ Hanlon, like Jade, conceding a year, also claiming a medal
in 11th. and Ciara O’ Leary, another conceding a year,
finishing 24th. The combined finishing positions of the
Tallaght girls were enough to win the team Silver medals, with the
first four Tallaght girls securing their places on the 12 member
Dublin team at the National finals in November, and the Tallaght team
qualifying as one of the three Dublin regional teams.
Robert
Fitzsimons contested the U17 4,000m well prepared and determined to
challenge all comers on the day. From the start he went straight into
the lead with Robert Corbally, DSD, who has beaten him in the last few
seasons, keeping him company. After the first 500m they both created a
clear gap on their opponent’s, including five more Tallaght
athletes. At the 1000m mark Robert had a gap of 30m on his main rival,
who closed him down to briefly lead at about 1800m, until Robert,
determined to beat his main rival, again stretched him over the final
2,000m to win decisively, claiming, with the delight of the Tallaght
supporters, his 3rd Dublin Cross Country Championships,
having won the U15 contest in 2003 and U14 in 2002.
In the
same race, Anthony Lieghio ran one of his strongest races to date to
claim a well deserved individual bronze, with Roberts younger brother
Peter, conceding a year to most of the other competitors, claiming a
medal for his 8th place and Luke Coleman securing a medal
and the penultimate place on the Dublin team for the Nationals, when
he crossed the line in 11th. Club mates, Brian Gregan and
Sean Bolger, both sprinters, who ran out of their skin, to finish the
tough course, followed them home. The Tallaght boys were rewarded with
the Gold team medals for their excellent combined finishing positions.
Earlier
in the day Jade Johnston, the sole Tallaght competitor in the U11 800m
contest, showed she will be a main contender for the U10 Dublin title
in two weeks time, when she won an individual medal and a place on the
Dublin team, for her fifth place finish behind older athletes, whilst
in the boys equivalent, Alan Hudson was another young athlete to run a
blinder on the day and secure an individual medal and a place on the
Dublin team, when he crossed the line in 4th.
The
Tallaght U15 boys also showed they are a force to contend with when
they combined to take the team Silver medals in the 2000m event. First
home for the club was Brian Connolly in 7th, Leigh Bolger
finishing11th, Eoghan Hennessey 13th and Niall
Forrester 18th They were followed home by brothers Stewart
and Phillip Kelly, both who ran well to complete their first
Championship race. Both Brian and Leigh qualified for the Dublin team
and all six will run as one of the three qualifying club teams in the
Nationals.
At U19
level Bronagh O’ Hanlon ran a very encouraging race to take an
individual medal and secure her place on the Dublin team, as did David
Somerville with his 11th place finish in the boys 6k event.
Overall
it was a great days outing for the club, winning two titles, and with
a total of 15 individuals qualifying to represent the County and three
of our teams qualifying for the Nationals in the team category,
Tallaght A.C. will be well represented in Sligo on 27th
November.
Next
up for our athletes will be the Dublin even age Championships in
Corkagh Park, Clondalkin, on Sunday 6th November.
For
Photos Courtsey of John Denny Click
here
More
Photos of the event by Alan Cowzer