Local runners selected for European adventure
A running shoe hangs on a stake during the 123.ie National Cross Country Championships at Gowran in Kilkenny, where Ballina AC's Hugh Armstrong and Keelan Kilrehill and Kirsty Maher of Moy Valley AC secured qualification to the Europeans in Brussels next month. icture: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
There was major recognition for athletics in Mayo and Sligo last week when no fewer than four runners from the region were selected to represent Ireland at the upcoming SPAR European Cross Country Championships which take place in Brussels on December 10.
Both athletic clubs in Ballina will be sending runners to what is the 29th edition of the Europeans, including on the senior men’s team.
Hugh Armstrong (Ballina AC) and Keelan Kilrehill (Mov Valley AC) are both on the plane by virtue of their excellent third and fourth place finishes at last Sunday week’s national cross country championships in Gowran, Co Kilkenny. The senior men’s team also includes newly crowned national champion Cormac Dalton (Mullingar Harriers) who will also be ably supported by Irish 5,000m record holder Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock), Fearghal Curtin (Youghal AC), and a resurgent Kevin Mulcaire (Ennis Track Club).
Hugh Armstrong is coached in Dublin by Feidhlim Kelly while Keelan Kilrehill is also training in the capital under Emmett Dunleavy.
Brussels 2023 follows last year’s European Cross Country Championships in Piemonte, Italy which saw Ireland claim a record five medals which resulted in Ireland finishing in second place on the overall medal table alongside Spain and France, bettering the three medals won at the 2021 European Cross Country Championships which were hosted in Fingal-Dublin.
Also representing Moy Valley AC and Ireland in Brussels will be Kirsty Maher who will run in the U20 women’s race. Kirsty, from the northwest of England, has strong Mayo roots, with mum Miriam (née Gordon) a native of Bohola. Lots of her family members, including Kirsty’s grandfather, still live in the area.
She strengthened her Mayo ties when opting to join Moy Valley AC twelve months ago and last Sunday week won bronze in the U20 Women’s 5,000m at the National Cross Country Championships in 21:06. Kirsty trains and competes with the Moy Valley club whenever her schedule allows (she is currently studying at university in the UK). Her coach in Ballina is Phillip Finnerty and in the UK is Andy Bibby.
Sligo AC have also qualified one runner for the Europeans with Michael Morgan set to go in the U23 men’s race.
Speaking at last week’s team announcement, Athletics Ireland National Endurance co-ordinator, Mark Kenneally said: “In my short time in the role it has been heartening to see the stellar work being put in by athletes and coaches to prepare for these championships. In recent years we have enjoyed great individual and team success, and this has raised expectations, both within the team and externally in the wider athletics and sporting community. This is, again, fantastic to see, and while the standard of distance running generally in Europe is on the rise, I am confident that our athletes are capable of rising to the challenge.
“Our athletes will be prepared to perform at their highest level, and I am certain this will ensure it will be a successful championships on December 10 in Brussels,” said Kenneally.
