It was another great day for Ace AC on Saturday in Dunboyne at the 2023 even age Leinster Cross Country Championship with top 12 finishes adding vital qualifying spots for the National finals.
In abysmal running conditions, Ace had several runners in the younger age groups including Lucy Reynolds, Sophie and Hannah Black, Muireann Chamas, Dylan Garcia, Ollie & Alphie Marron, Tayo Lawernce, Seamus Sheridan and Ruairi Cooney, who all performed well without achieving top 12 finishes.
Under 15 athlete Chloe Cooney kicked off the medals and national qualifications with an impressive 4th in a huge field. Chloe had already medalled and qualified for the nationals in the u16 age group a few weeks earlier. Kate O’Donnell ran very well in the same race.
Eimear Cooney and Sholah Lawernce (running out of age) were next to medal in a magnificent 2nd and 4th respectively in the girls’ u17 race. In what was a very high level race, both girls showed their class to battle through the atrocious conditions to medal.
Strong runs from both Isabella Garcia and Ciara O’Connor in the same race helped secure a silver team medal for Louth and meant both girls also qualified for the Irish final.
Daniel Hanley, Tadgh Forde Dunne, and Killian Sheridan competed well in the boy’s u15 race.
Lorcan Forde Dunne turned in another stellar performance in the boys’ u17 boys’ race, securing a medal in 6th place (also out of age) plus automatic qualification.
In the same race Rhys Clark finished 39th with Fergus Nolan 40th. Both boys strong positions helped Louth win another silver team medal and as a result secured them national qualification. Christian Kelly ran very well in the same race.
Allie Garcia ran in the girl’s u19 race but unfortunately had to retire through injury.
The best was left till last however as, in the final race of the day, Danny Nugent struck gold to become the Leinster U19 Cross Country Champion.
Danny started the race aggressively and was part of a breakaway group of five athletes. He made his move with 1k to go and finished strongly to secure the title.
