Sligo AC News: Running Shoes!

A good running surface, a well marked and laid out course, good weather, a big crowd and huge fields in every race all contributed to make last Sundays Juvenile and Novice cross country in Tullamore one of the most enjoyable athletic events I have attended in recent years. Sligo athletes recently have ended up in fourth place in many races. This trend continued on Sunday when Eimear O’Brien finished in that position after running a brave race in the women’s novice race. However some form of consolation to her was the fact that she led the Sligo county team to bronze medals in the intercounty race. The four scoring members on the team were Eimear O’Brien 4th, Una McCool 23rd, Aishling Van Rensburg 43rd and Roseanne Mitchell 54th. William Crowe again proved what a fine athlete he is when he finished 6th in a high standard under 15 boys race and another athlete who caught the eye in this race was Sligo athletic club athlete Darren Kilcawley who ran his best ever cross country race finishing in 24th place. A top ten finish was a good reward for young Leo Doherty (pictured with Jack Connor) who continues his improvement in the boys under 11 race. The unluckiest Sligo athlete of the day was Anna Reddin in the girls under 19 5000m race. Right from the gun she ran a positive race and took the lead. She held that lead until the last of the three laps where she got a stitch and had to drop out. Other good days will come along for what is a talented athlete. The Sligo AC men’s novice team also gave everything with Spanish import Alberto Sanceze leading the team home in 5th place. Dermot McDermott ran his best ever cross country race in 11th place. Tommy Kelly led the North Sligo team home in 19th place. However the folly of having two senior clubs in the county was again exemplified when the results showed that if Kelly was running for Sligo athletic club they would have finished in 2nd place instead of the 8th place overall. This is a debate for another day however and should not cloud a generally good day for Sligo athletics. On a busy weekend Sligo AC were also in Nenagh on Saturday for the Athletics Ireland national junior championships indoors. The cross-country race on Sunday obviously affected the participation levels in these championships. Sligo AC middle distance star Tommy Casey lined out in the 1500m and as they lined up I would have put my house on the All Ireland schools champion to win gold. However as racehorse Kato Star proved at much the same time across the water in Kempton Park there is no such thing as a certainty in racing either the four legged or two-legged version. The slow pace did not suit Tommy and he was caught for speed in the last 200mts and had to settle for a silver medal.
Another busy weekend awaits us next weekend. On Saturday the AAI games will be held in Nenagh while on the same day the big international cross country race will be held in Antrim. Mary Cullen who won the ladies race last year is in South Africa training so will be absent. Sligo AC will however be represented by Eimear O’Brien. In the men’s race the North Sligo colours will be worn by Tommy Carroll who returns from his training base in London. On Sunday the AAI masters indoor championships take place in Nenagh and again Sligo will be well represented.