The final event of this year’s cross country league took place at Lurgan Park on Saturday. With a 2k loop around the scenic park the ladies competed over 3 laps while the men took on 6 laps.
Jessica Craig made her intentions clear right from the gun with a fantastic display of front running which would last the whole way to the tape.
Behind her Rachel Gibson and Jodi Smith battled for 2nd and 3rd throughout the race and in the end Rachel took the runners up spot. Jodi had a great run, pushing hard to catch Jessica midway through and then settling for 3rd in the end, great stuff while hampered with a foot injury.
With the 3 podium places filled it was odds on for a North Down team victory and Sarah Lindsay provided the necessary back up returning in 19th. So for the first time ever North Down had their hands on a Senior cross country title, excellent work – well done girls.
In addition to the immediate success of podium places at Lurgan, the first two athletes in the mens and womens races are automatically selected to represent NI and Ulster at the Home Countries cross country at Port Talbot, Wales on 25th March. So Jessica and Rachel will join Craig McMeechan, who has already been selected for the mens U20 team, in Wales later this month. Each team is made up of 4 runners so hopefully Jodi’s recent excellent performances will be taken into consideration.
As has been the norm throughout this cross country league, the number of ladies turning out for the club has been a credit. Saturday was no different and following on from our first 4 finishers was Clair Quigley showing off her talents when finishing 24th, Valerie McDonough running strongly completing in 31st and Fiona McQuillan enjoying her first xc season with a solid 35th place finish.
Clare Kennedy wasn’t far behind in 37th spot and Sarah Benton and Helen Byers came in close together in 41st and 42nd. Joanne Moran was next in 51st position and Jane Stevenson was 54th, Lisa McMeechan 65th and Clare Smith 71st. Alison Wise ran well to complete in 88th followed by Marie Devine in 99th and Paula Simpson 110th. An excellent end to the season with league victory for the North Down ladies. Just reward for the commitment and the strength and depth of talent on show at every race.
First man home over the 12k race was Alex Donald with a very creditable 17th placing. Francis Marsh was less than 30 seconds behind in 24th and Dennis Scott made it home in 30th. Ben Caughers and Jamie McMeechan finished virtually together in 36th and 37th, only 2 seconds separating them, and the ever reliable Mark Weir had a strong outing to record 51st.
David Massey enjoyed the muck for the last time this season with a fine 60th with Frankie Rea and David McMeechan crossing the line in 74th and 75th. Colin Walker was next to finish in 86th and one minute later Philip Mulligan, 91st despite taking a tumble on the course.
Alan Massey was next on 94th, Keith Gilmore 105th and Paul Galloway and Michael Stevenson returned side by side in 116th and 117th.
The men had a reasonable league finish, in around 4th, with good attendances at all of the races albeit without our strongest talents on show. Our attentions now return to the roads, defending the Novosco 10k team title, our first track event on the 4th April and hopefully some warmer weather!