Mayo AC success at National Masters Cross-country

The National Masters Intermediate and Masters Cross-Country took place today at Gowran Demense in Co Kilkenny

Intermediate and Masters events were preceded by half a dozen juvenile races with 667 competing. There were 507 in the Intermediate and Masters events.

Hosts Gowran AC did an excellent job organising the busy schedule with help from Athletics Ireland officials. As usual competition was very keen in all categories and among club and county teams.

Well done to our nine competitors who undertook the long journey to Gowran in the south-east to represent the club.

Eight women (Mags Glavey W70, Pauline Moran W65, Angela O’Connor W55, Breege Blehein W55, ColetteTuohy W50, Joan Walsh W50, Breege Staunton W45 and Paula Donnellan W40) competed as individuals and as our W50 team. They ran over 4,000m.

Stephen Monaghan M50 joined the club last month and ran in the men’s 35-64 race over 7,000m.

New member Stephen Monaghan is presented with his club vest by Colette Tuohy

Results for categories and teams are defined by place in finishing order.

Our eight representatives ran magnificently on a grassy dry course with a short section of rough ground. The day was dry and overcast with a cool breeze and 9°C.

Mayo AC over 50 women came away with four medals, a brilliant achievement.

There was individual Gold again for Pauline Moran in W65 with Mayo native Mary Browne Lucan Harriers AC second, and also for Mags Glavey in W70, and bronze for Angela O’Connor in W55 – same as last year in Cork! Great running by these three club stalwarts.

There was heartbreak again this year for ColetteTuohy in W50 – pipped on the line in 4th place with same time given to 3rd placed finisher. Colette was our first finisher and as usual led by example – in the final 100 metres she passed two runners but missed out on bronze by a fraction of a second.

In the W45 category Breege Staunton came home 21st.

And in W40 Paula Donnellan finished with same place as last year- 25th of 40 finishers in the category

Our women’s club W50 team won silver with 250 points behind Raheny Shamrock AC on 228 – ColetteTuohy, Angela O’Connor, Pauline Moran and Breege Blehein – all put in a wonderful perfomance of strong running and were well backed up by Joan Walsh.

And Mayo County 50+ women won bronze – all of the team from Mayo AC – Colette, Angela, Pauline and Breege.

Stephen Monaghan M50 was our only competitor in the masters M35-64 7k race. He joined club last month and travelled over from London where he is based. His people come from Belmullet. Stephen ran a great race in a massive field of over 200 finishing in 148th place.

Today’s four medals combined with the thirteen national masters indoor medals won last week in Athlone is another great start to the year for the club.

Congratulations to all of our medal winners and thanks to all eight members who represented the club so well in Gowran today!

More photos from the event tomorrow.

Results:

https://www.myrunresults.com/events/123ie_national_inter__masters_xc_championships/4774/results