As recently reported Lisa Myles Danne, the 3rd
Irish lady to cross the finish line, was awarded the individual National
Bronze medal in the Senior Women’s category and combined with Deirdre
Pitts and Anna King they won the Master Women’s team silver medals.
However, in the men’s categories, the following good news was not to
hand at the time, and we are delighted to report Niall Coppinger, the
first Tallaght athlete to finish was rewarded for his efforts with the
Gold medal in the 0/45 Masters category, whilst Frank Ferguson did
likewise in the 0/50 Masters and Gary Clarke took the individual Bronze
in the 0/55 Masters category.
Elsewhere, Dessie Shorten was the first Irish athlete to cross the
finishing line in the 0/50 category in the 5 Nations International Cross
Country event at Falkirk, on Saturday last, where Niall Coppinger again
played a major part in Irelands silver medal team win in the 0/45
category. This was certainly a great display by our two representatives.
Next up for our athletes is the National Juvenile Even Age Cross Country
Championships in Dungarvan, on Sunday next, where both John Daly and
Conor Murray will be contesting their first All Ireland Championships,
when they line up in the U12 1,000m event. Also competing for Dublin
will be Aisling Johnston and Roisin O’ Hanlon in the U16 2,000m event,
with Brian Connolly also staking his claim in the same age category,
over a distance of 3,000m.
There will also be a Tallaght presence at U18 level where, Peter
Fitzsimons, Anthony Lieghio and Luke Coleman will be vying for
individual, county and regional medals in their 4k contest, whilst
Aoibheann Tierney will be doing likewise in her 3,000m contest.
At the same venue, Tracy Williams, on scholarship in Iona will be making
the journey across the Atlantic to toe the line in the U23 selection
trials for the European Cross Country Championships.
Wishing all our competitors, the best of luck on the day.