Britton and Murray win Senior Cross Country titles in Sligo
Fionnuala Britton and Gary Murray take Senior Cross Country titles in Sligo
The Woodie’s DIY cross country championships at Sligo racecourse produced four worthy champions on a deceptively tough course. A strong wind added to the athlete’s woes, with many of the early front runners paying dearly in the closing stages.
Mary Cullen made her intentions clear from the start of the senior women’s race as she raced into the lead from the start. Fionnuala Britton settled on her shoulder and they both began to draw clear of a good quality field.
The pair remained locked together until just before the bell when Britton made her move on the tough uphill section, and with over 2,00m remaining. In a matter of strides she was away as Cullen paid dearly for her strong early pace.
Britton simply glided over the country on that last lap and crossed the line a very impressive winner. Cullen in second must have been impressed with the vocal local crowd who roared her on throughout the race.
The winner will next compete in the World cross country championships, revealing after the race that she has made all the necessary preparations for that trip, including inoculations. She runs just about 80 miles a week.
The lead group in the senior men’s race was reduced to three after the athletes settled down, with Joe Sweeney, Gary Murray and Mark Kenneally opening a gap on the rest of the field. Kenneally did much of the leading and was pushing the pace as early as the second of five laps.
Sweeney was first to feel the pace and, as he dropped back, the race became an intriguing duel.
Kenneally continued to push the pace, but Murray was the stronger and he went for home midway through the fourth lap, going on to win impressively, adding to his win in 2005. Injury interrupted his plans last year.
DSD athletes dominated the junior women’s race with Rebecca Ffrench O’Carroll, schools winner Suzanne Huet and Bryony Treston running together for the first of three laps.
Ffrench O’Carroll made her move midway through the second lap and was clear in a matter of strides. She crossed the line well clear, while Huet went into second mid way through the last lap to claim second ahead of Treston.
David Rooney, after a very sub par effort last week in the KitKat All Ireland schools cross country championships, was determined to banish all memories of that race. So, for much of this race he led the field.
Schools winner John Coghlan was never far away, covering every move up front. He made his move with 800m remaining and opened up a gap on Rooney.
However, David Flynn made up ground in the closing stages and both Rooney and himself then made up ground on Coghlan. There was no catching the leader though and he crossed the line to complete a super double, while Flynn overtook Rooney in the last 100m for second.
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