Tallaght athletes made a very competitive start
in the first meeting of the cross country season at the Phoenix Park
last Sunday. The meet included the first league races for juveniles and
the Dublin Men’s & Womens Novice Championships.
Although numbers were less than expected our on the day, our athletes
showed their competitive spirit with many delivering some excellent
results. Eamonn Conroy was the first to toe the line when he contested
the U10 400m where he got off to a flying start and maintained his
position in the leading group until the final 100m, where he battled all
the way in a sprint finish to clinch 2nd place on the line. Evan Flynn
was another in tremendous form leading from the start he showed a clean
pair of heels to his rivals to take maximum points in the U12 800m,
whilst Connor Murray took 2nd in a very fast run 1000m at U13 degree.
Jade Johnston took valuable points with a sixth place finish in her U13
800m contest.
At U14 degree, John Daly was another in top
form when cruising to an easy victory over 1,200m with Sean Mc Cabe
taking 7th. Aaron Mc Donagh had a good run in the U15 1500m contest as
did Sean Fitzsimons in the U16 2,000m race where he finished fourth.
Roisin O’ Hanlon battled throughout her U17
2,000m contest, securing valuable points when crossing the line in 3rd
place, whilst Frankie Walsh, Niall Meehan, both U17 and Sean Fitzpatrick
U18 all finished well up in their 4,000m contests to stay in contention
for league trophies.
The highlight of the day for the club was the
Men’s Novice Championships. After his 4th placed finish in the recent
National half marathon Championships in Waterford Jettun Dharamjai
showed he was equally effective over a shorter cross country course when
taking the silver medal in a sprint to the finish, after a closely
contested race with two other athletes throughout the four laps of the
6,000metre race. Jettun led home Eoin Dunne 11th, Peter Fitzsimons 20th
and Luke Coleman 37th to take 5th placing in the team category, which
was a very good combined effort, considering it was the first occasion
the four had competed at this level. James Crowley followed Luke home
further back in the field.
Our athletes will be competing again on the
October 12th in Tymon Park, where the juveniles will be again seeking
points in the 2nd of the four scheduled league races, starting at
11.30am and the seniors in the Dublin Intermediate Championships at
1.30pm.
Photos Courtesy of John Denny
