ATHLETICS NATIONAL INTER COUNTY CROSS COUNTRY:MARY CULLEN has further underlined her intentions to challenge for glory at next month's European Cross Country in Dublin by easily winning the senior women's inter-counties title at wet and windy Kilbeggan racecourse yesterday. The Sligo athlete finished a minute clear of Wicklow's Deirdre Byrne after applying her now trademark front-running tactics, which soon had her well clear of all her rivals.
Cullen completed the 8km course in 26 minutes and 43 seconds, with Byrne second in 27:44, and Dublin’s Linda Byrne a close third in 27:45. All three secured a guaranteed place on the Irish team for the European Cross Country, which takes place in Santry on December 13th. Fionnula Britton finished fourth.
“The conditions out there were very difficult,” admitted Cullen, “but my coach, Ray Treacy, just told me to go as hard as possible early on the race and that would be enough to see me through. There was a very strong headwind that we were running into but I felt comfortable throughout and am delighted to take the gold in what was a strong field.
“It’s all go now for the Euros in Dublin next month. This will be my last race before then so, on a personal note, it was important to get the win.”
Andrew Ledwith of the Fr Murphy’s club in Meath took his first senior men’s title after a slightly harder battle over a 10km course. He injected a decisive surge with two of the five laps remaining – bringing him home in 29:45, ahead of Seán Connolly (Tallaght AC) and Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers).
Connolly was 23 seconds adrift, with Kenneally just five seconds behind him, and along with Ledwith, these three will also go forward as the automatic selections for Dublin.
There was something of a surprise in the junior men’s race when 2008 paralympic gold medallist Michael McKillop of St Malachy’s strode to victory ahead of Liam Trimble. In the junior women’s race, as Ciara Mageean of Lisburn AC dominated throughout and finished 20 seconds ahead of Laura Shaughnessy of Loughrea AC in second and Emma Mitchell of Banbridge AC in third.
Irish team manager for the Europeans, Anne Keenan-Buckley, was impressed by what she saw. “Conditions were not easy . . . I am very pleased with the performances of the athletes out here today, but in particular it was great to see Mary Cullen win . . . I am very confident ahead of the European Championships, I believe we have a great team and our build up has been first rate.”
Senior Men: 1st: Andrew Ledwith (Fr Murphy’s AC); 2nd Sean Connolly (Tallaght AC); 3rd Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers) Senior Women: 1st Mary Cullen (North Sligo AC); 2nd Deirdre Byrne (Slà Chualann); 3rd Linda Byrne (Dundrum South Dublin) Under 23 Men: 1st Michael Mulhare (Portlaoise AC); Under 23 Women: Sara Treacy (Moynalvey AC); Junior Men: 1st Micahel McKillop (St. Malachy’s); 2nd Liam Trimble (Metro St. Brigid’s); 3rd Ryan Creche (Cork) Junior Women: Ciara Mageean (Lisburn AC); 2nd Laura Shaughnessy (Loughrea AC); Emma Mitchell (Banbridge)
