McGlynn defends national Cross Country title at Templemore Sports Complex on Sunday
All roads lead to Templemore Sports Complex this weekend for the National Senior, U23, U20 and Juvenile Even Age Cross Country Championships.
The championships, being held in Derry for the historic first time, promise to be the best in some years with most of the country’s leading distance athletes making the trip to the Maiden City – many for the first time. Local clubs will be well represented with hosts City of Derry Spartans and Foyle Valley fielding teams across the programme.
And as well as prestigious championships medals, places on Irish teams for next month’s European Cross Country in Portugal are also on offer in the Under 20, Under 23 and Senior races.
Ireland came home from last year’s Euros in Turkey with a solitary silver gained by Nick Griggs in the U23 men’s race from Nick Griggs who unfortunately picked up an infection in his knee that subsequently sideline him for a number of months.
Race Director Dara Furey, Chairperson of City of Derry Spartans confirmed this week that everything was in place for what promises to be a memorable event.
“The championships coming to Derry has caused an unprecedented interest in the event here in the north west,” said Furey, “We’ve had the course passed by Athletics Ireland and comfortably met all their requirements, including having 70 volunteers on the day. In fact we’ve surpassed that with 130 now signed up thanks to huge commitments from the local schools.”
The Senior Women’s race looks likely to be the best on the programme with Ann-Marie McGlynn defending her title on home ground. The 45-year-old, who continues to defy Father Time, was an impressive winner 12 months ago on a hilly course in Irvinestown. No hills on Sunday and now running in the colours of Strabane AC, McGlynn faces stern opposition from last year’s runner up, Danielle Donegan, and third placer, Niamh Allen as well as Gortin twins, Roisin and Eilish Flanagan, who fly home from the USA for the event. Sarah Kelly leads a more than useful Spartans’ selection in the race which also includes Judith Storm, Ciara Toner, Catherine Whoriskey and Angeline McShane.
In the Senior Men’s race, the million pound question is: can Griggs become the first Ulster athlete to take the Senior Men’s title in his native province since North Belfast Harrier John Ferrin ploughed through the ankle-deep mud for victory in Stranorlar 26 years ago?
Northerners Eddie McGinley (2012) and Paul Pollock (2017) have both subsequently taken men’s titles but at Dublin venues. Griggs, currently featured in a YouTube video series – Nick Griggs: Why Limit Yourself? - had a solid early season outing in Spain recently when he was fifth in the San Sebastian International Cross, finishing as first European. The 20-year-old Tyrone athlete will be suited by the 7.5km distance although the expected soft going may not be entirely to his liking.
One thing for certain we will have a new men’s champion with last year’s winner, Keelan Kilrehill from Mayo, absent from the entries although 2023 victor, Cormac Dalton, one place behind Griggs in San Sebastian, can relied on to put up a good showing.
Dalton’s Mullingar Harriers clubmate Jack O’Leary is also enjoying a rich vein of form with personal bests over 5,000m, 10,000m and 10km road this year. O’Leary, a nephew of Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, should also be in contention for a podium place.
Spartans, Inishowen AC and Foyle Valley field teams in the race with the latter hoping to take medals in the ‘C’ team competition.
Other local athletes to watch out for include Foyle Valley’s Clara Casey in the U18/U20 race where she will be supported by clubmates Molly Heaney and Sophie Holmes. Foyle Valley also have a team in the U18/U20 age group contest supported by Spartan Dallan Curran in the Inter-County competition and Curran’s clubmate, Lukas Janosik starts favourite for gold in U12 age group.
The action on Sunday gets underway at 11:30am with the U12 Girls 2,000m race, with the Senior Women’s race starting at 2:10pm followed 40 minutes later by the Senior Men’s, commencing at 2:50pm.
Everyone attending should familiarise themselves with the parking arrangements on the Athletics Ireland (athleticsireland.ie) website where they can also find start lists, a map of the course and a link to purchase an admission ticket.
For fireside fans, Athletics Ireland will be showing a finish line feed on its YouTube channel and on its website there is an athlete tracker for the Senior races only.