Dublin Athletic Board Juvenile Cross Country League
(by Ray Fitzsimons)

The second race of the Dublin Athletic Board Juvenile Cross Country League was held on Saturday at Newbridge House, Donabate. Points are awarded to the top ten finishers in each race with prizes to be awarded to the top six athletes in each age group over the three race series.

Tallaght AC had many points winning performances and are strongly placed going into the last race of the league series on Sunday next October 19th in the Phoenix Park.

Grace Kristensen was first home in 7th place in the U10 700M with Ciara Henry in 8th and Lauren Power in 9th, Shannon Mahon in 10th, Aisling Barrett in 17th and Shauna Mahon in 21st while Alan Hudson ran superbly to take 3rd in the Boys U10 700M .
Anne Marie Mc Clean secured some points with her 8th place in the U11 700M where Zara Gaynor 15th, Kirsty Watson 16th, Robyn Reece 21st also ran well while Rhys Coleman ran his best race of the year to finish 6th in the Boys U11 race.
Jade Corcoran who is awaiting her transfer to Tallaght AC led the field in the U12 800M to win for the second time in the league with Roisin O Hanlon in 3rd , Ciara O Leary in 6th ,Catherine Power in 7th and Sarah Boyd in 17th.

In the Boys U12 900M Eoghan Hennessy 2nd, Darryl Mahon 6th, Ciaran Dunne 8th and Jason Power 10th all scored valuable points with John Bodie and Thomas Murray just behind.

It was Tallaght 1 and 2 for the second time in the league series in the Girls U13 800M with Aisling Johnston in 1st place and Rebecca Game in 2nd while Fiona Byrne also collected points for her 9th place finish. Race debutant Deirdre Comerford can be well pleased with her 11th place in her first CC race.
Tallaghts only runner in the Boys U14 1200M was Peter Fitzsimons and he improved his medal prospects following his 3rd place finish as does Aoibheann Tierney who finished 5th again in the Girls U14 1000M. Stacy O Connor 13th , Carla Fullam 15th and Clara Mulligan 18th all improved on their first series placings .
The Boys U15 1000M was again dominated by Tallaght athletes with Robert Fitzsimons storming home in 1st, Luke Coleman 3rd and Brian Gregan in 4th and the U15 girls were not to be outdone with Sarah Bodie finishing strongly to take 3rd in the 1200M with Kate Whelan in 4th place and Laura Finlay in 12th place.
Mark Power moved up the points table when he finished 4th in the U16 2000M and Bronagh O Hanlon consolidated her position when finishing 2nd in the U16 1500M.
Chris Healy didn’t let his team down in the U17 4000M finishing in 4TH place while Aoife Mc Carthy also scored hard earned points with their 6TH place in the U17 2000M as did Stephanie Game who finished 3rd in the U18 3000M.

Tallaght AC also competed in the Dublin Athletic Board Novice Cross Country Championships at the same venue and pride of place goes to Laura Mc Donnell who finished 5th. Anna King ran well in 11th place and Jenny O Connor will be well pleased with her run in 24th.
In the Mens race over 6000M Derek Quinn was first home in 20th place overall and his team of Keith Sherlock, Danny O Farrell, Bill Murphy, Jimmy Phibbs, Garry Moralee, Colm Barcoe , Liam O Riain, James Crowley and Gerry O Brien secured 7th place overall in the team standings in one of the most hotly contested races of the season.