Wonderful Mayo AC performances at Bushfield, leg 3 Cross Country League
Sunny Sunday at Loughrea l-r : Pauline, Paula, Tom, Colette,Martina, Angela, Noreen, Breege
Leg 3 of the Connacht Cross Country League was another serious test for club athletes across the Region. For all of its thirty- three year history Mayo AC athletes have traditionally targeted championship events – track & field, road and cross country.
Our continuing record of championship success spans county, region, national and international events. And results from the current Connacht Cross Country event will add to that success.
We are waiting for official results of the combined 3 league legs on which individual and team medals are based, and will post those as soon as they are published.
As we reported there were great performances by our competitors in the league in Sligo and last week at Belleek.
Yesterday a Mayo AC team of nine went to Loughrea to compete in the third and final leg of the Connacht Cross Country League.
The event was superbly organised and hosted by Loughrea AC and Galway Co Board at Bushfield.
The undulating course was in great condition with firm underfoot sections throughout. Stone walls and grassy green slopes gave it a real Galway feel.
Following some very competitive underage races the two adult events took place – women’s 4k, men’s 8k.
Mayo AC contested five categories: women’s Novice, W35 and W50 and men’s M35 and M65.
Our top finisher again this week was Martina O’Connor. Despite being spiked at the start line, she came home in a brilliant second place overall in the women’s 4k, and first in Novice category – just caught at the finish line by race winner Kathryn Casserly GCH – W35 .
Martina will now look to compete on the bigger stage at the National Novice event in Gowran in a month’s time.
Our formidable W50 team put in another excellent performance.
Colette Tuohy led the way second individual, followed by Angela O’Connor 3rd, and great support by Pauline Moran 4th and Noreen McManamon in 5th. The team are looking good for gold.
In W35 Paula Donnellan (6th of 10) will be among the medals and rewarded for a strong overall performance in the 3 races. Well done too Breege Staunton who also ran well in W35.
Tom Hunt was one of two runners in M65, having been the only competitor in the previous two legs. He came home behind Martin Kearney – the GCH master athlete ran a fantastic 3:02 in the Berlin Marathon recently and ranks second fastest on the Irish M65 list.
Like many, Mike Griffin had a tough time in Belleek but looked more comfortable on the grassy gradients today.
He finished 9th of 19 M35s.
Emmett Dunleavy M40 Sligo AC was the clear race winner in the men’s 8k – smooth running and fast too – 26:08 .
Mayo AC finishing positions in the Bushfield Leg 3 (In brackets the number of competitors in category)
Novice Women (17)
Mike Griffin on fourth lap of men’s 8k
Men 35+ (19)