Clondalkin Open  Cross Country Race 9th March 2003

The first running of the Clondalkin Open Cross Country race was held yesterday at Corkagh Park, Clondalkin in dreadful weather conditions with gale force winds and rain. The competition attracted large numbers of athletes from clubs such as Clonliffe Harriers, West Wicklow, MSB, Donore Harriers , Clondalkin Athletic Club and Tallaght A.C and others

Tallaght AC had many super individual performances which saw the club win the Overall Club perpetual trophy.

First on the podium was 7 year old Jade Johnston who took gold in the U8 200M . Shannon Mahon won silver in the U9 300M, while Alan Hudson won gold in the U9 300M with club mate Adam Prior following close behind in 3rd place.
Lauren Power won gold in the U10 600M , Ciara O Leary also won gold in the U12 1000M with club mate Roisin O Hanlon taking the bronze. Darryl Mahon took the bronze medal in the U13 1200M while Tallaght Athletes dominated the U13 Girls 1200M with Aisling Johnston taking gold, Fiona Byrne silver and Shauna Murphy in 4th. Peter Fitzsimons ran a great race to finish 4th in the U14 1500M.
The Boys U15 2000M was also dominated by Tallaght Athletes with Robert Fitzsimons flying home in first with Luke Coleman in 2nd and Sean Bolger in 4th.
Sarah Bodie enjoyed her ding dong battle to the line to secure silver in the U15 1500M while David Somerville dug in to win the bronze in the U16 2000M. Bronagh O Hanlon showed she is coming back to form when striding away to win the U16 2000M and in the last race of the day, David Murphy won silver in the U18 4000M with club mate Roy Murray in 4th.
Many of these athletes will now turn their attention to Ras na hEireann in Dunleer next week.

Meanwhile, at the Kit-Kat All – Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships at ALSAA on Saturday Robert Fitzsimons finished in 8th place out of 144 competitors in the Junior Boys Race over 3500 metres and will represent Ireland in the International Schools Cross Country Championships against England, Scotland and Wales in 3 weeks time. This is a great achievement for this young athlete who was representing St Marks Community School in this event.

Tallaght AC’s Tracy Wiliams can also be pleased with her performance which saw her finish in the medals in the senior Girls 2500M race where she finished in 5th place. Tracy was competing for her school Loreto Crumlin.