Katie Moore and Craig McMeechan represented Northern Ireland at Loughborough on Saturday, an indication of their quality cross country running this season.
Katie’s race was over 8K of the undulating, unforgiving course around Prestwold Hall in Leicestershire and managed 82nd spot clocking 35:50 for the trip. Unfortunately the NI girls didn’t have the required 4 finishers for team results so didn’t place.
The mens race covered 10K and was measured at 6.49 miles, a mark of the severity of the course is that the winner, Calum Johnson has a 10K pb of 29.38. He completed the Loughborough course in a shade over 33 minutes. Craig McMeechan, earning his first senior Northern Ireland vest, finished in 36:12 which managed 72nd place in the 300 strong field. Together with fellow NI athletes, Eskander Turki – 10th, Conan McCaughey – 18th, Andrew Milligan – 31st, Andrew Annett – 54th, Donal Farren – 71st and Zak Hanna – 75th the Northern Ireland team claimed 2nd overall team prize. The first time the NI team has medalled in at least 15 years, since our own Davie Seaton looked after the team.
