Mar 13, 2010 [Noel Guiden] Excellent runs from Clonliffe athletes at today`s All Ireland Schools Cross Country held at Cork IT. On a bone dry flat course the 12mm spikes were discarded in favour of track spikes or flats, today was a day tailor made for the speed merchants.
The senior boys race over 6,000m was the race which held the most Clonliffe interest with seven of our athletes taking the starters gun. Jamie Rossister (Belvedere) ran a very positive race once again and powered home in an excellent 6th place (19.17). Also having a stormer this week picking himself up after last week`s National Junior disappointment was Eric McCann (SC Mhuire Clane) finishing 12th (19.39). The St. Aidan`s CBS Panzer Division ran superbly as a team lead home in 21st by Jordan Logue (20.06), with Mark McKenzie 30th (20.27), Ian Guiden 34th (20.38) and running the cross country race of his life Star Man Graham Mahon 42nd (21.02) these scorring four taking an excellent team silver, a major step forward after placing 3rd in Leinster. Johnny Bradley Ward also had a good run for St. Aidans in 76th well earning his silver medal on a very fast course which by no means was to his liking.
In the Junior boys 3,500m race young Liam Ashton was in inspired form. After being caught on the line with his track suit top still on he was last out of the traps, but was like a hot knife through butter carving through the field passing dozens of runners on each lap eventually finishing an unbelieveable 23rd place. A worderful effort.
Clonliffe`s only athlete in the Inter boys race was Eoin McCullough (Belvedere) who clearly didn`t enjoy the fast ground and finished well down on his recent form in 74th.
In the Universities Championships Louise Reilly had a really good run over the 5,000m distance placing 4th. Finally the Universities men where there were a number of Clonliffe athletes. Mark McDonald had a very strong run over the 8,000m finishing top Clonliffe man in 10th place and winning team Gold with DCU. 12th was Michael McDiarmada, 13th Eoin Pearce and 41st Conor McGuinness.
An excellent well run day`s athletics.