Efrem Gidey has been confirmed for his first Irish vest and travels to Lisbon this weekend for the European U/20 cross-country Championships. The Eritrean born Efrem left his home number of years ago arriving in a refugee camp in Calais, northern France and some 2 1/2 years ago arrived in Ireland. Upon coming to Clonliffe Harriers he fitted in nicely with Joe Cooper’s young junior squad. Despite his then little English, he became very popular member of the squad. The fact that he was such a promising athlete of course more than helped!
Efrem in 2018 led the Clonliffe junior team to win the National’s. In February of this year as national champions that junior team travelled to Portugal for the European clubs where Efrem had an outstanding run to finish fifth. He has also enjoyed a stellar schools career, winning the all Ireland schools title over both 5000 and cross country. Similarly on the track for Clonliffe he has won the national junior 5000. This season he has commenced his senior career a few months early winning the Dublin senior cross-country title at ease in Santry in early November and then in the nationals in Abbottstown mixed it with Ireland’s best to finish in ninth place and lead the Clonliffe senior team to regaining the national title.
Efrem is one of a trio of Clonliffe athletes who will represent Ireland this weekend joining Cathal Doyle, who goes in the U/23 race and Eoin Pierce, mixed relay. The very best of luck to our athletes and to the entire Irish team.