Colette leads Masters Cross Country success

Lough Key Forest Park was the setting for another great performance by our women at Woodie’s DIY AAI Masters Cross Country Championships today. A mild misty day is usually welcomed by athletes but many struggled in the the tough conditions over hill and hollow. Runners tried for the best line though wet muddy sections and arduous ascents. Competition as usual was fierce with club, county and individual honours at stake and we had seventeen in action.
There were over one hundred on the start line for the 4k Women’s masters race.
After the usual frenzied start, Colette Tuohy set out amid the top six or seven and maintained her signature strong pace which brought her to the top three. With eventual winner Pauline Curley hitting the front, she battled with Mary Scully, passing her and being passed in turn, as they raced for the line. Colette finished a brilliant 3rd overall and won bronze in the 40+ age category. This is one of the best individual results in a |National Masters cross-country championship in the club’s history. Her performance led the women’s over 40 team to silver place in the Inter Clubs section with 78 points – just reward for a fantastic team effort.
The team (four to count) have finished 4th in the past two years at this event with 127, and 85 points.
Colette was followed home by a great run from Ann Lennon in 19th, winning bronze in the o45 category,with Angela
O’Connor 21st and 4th o45, and Colette Sweeney in 38th.
They were well backed up by Chris Gallagher (57), Ann Murray (68) and Mary Moylett (101). Pauline Moran finished an excellent 4th in o55, and Mary Naylor and Una McGrath also ran well in a very competitive o50 category.
Mayo finished 3rd in Inter County section.

Over 200 took part in the Masters men’s 7k – 4 laps, three times over the hill – Brendan Gill was our first finisher 28th of 200 starters – a fine run.
Seamus Gaughan led home the 50+ team, displaying his recent good form and was 4th in the o60 category. Danny Green (M55), was right behind him all through finishing 118th, followed by Tom Hunt 146th and 6th o60 with M50 Ronnie Naylor (161) and M55 Owen Mongan (165). Robert Malseed M40) also ran but unfortunately dropped out mid race.

There were some mix ups in the provisional results displayed post-race, especially in category section. Check out www.athleticsireland.ie for official results when