Ace Athletic Club enjoyed a successful day at the 2025 Louth Odd Ages Cross Country Championships, with Chloe Cooney claiming a brilliant gold and several athletes earning silvers and bronze medals in a series of standout performances.
The day began in style with seven-year-old Finn Murphy finishing third in the Under 8 boys’ race, showing great composure and strength well beyond his years.
In the Under 9 races, Millie Roche continued her strong season with a top ten finish and a well-earned medal, while Harry Reilly, one of the most improved young athletes in the club, also took home a medal after placing in the top ten of the boys’ event.
The Under 11 girls delivered a strong team performance, earning bronze in the team standings. Muireann Chammas led the group with a brave and attacking run to finish highest of the Ace AC girls.
In the Under 13 girls’ race, Caoimhe Carolan narrowly missed out on the medals but ran steadily for the club. She was joined by Sophie Black and Ella Doyle, both Under 12 athletes competing out of age, who handled the longer distance and tougher field with maturity.
Ruairi Cooney, another Under 12 athlete running in the Under 13 boys’ race, impressed with a sixth-place finish — an excellent result, with only one athlete of his age ahead of him as he looks ahead to next month’s Louth Under 12 Championships.
In the Under 15 girls’ race, Hannah Black produced a strong performance, showing good form throughout.
The Under 15 boys’ race saw one of the most exciting performances of the day from Taylor Gregory, who led for much of the 3,500m event before being passed in the final ten metres. He crossed the line second to claim a well-deserved silver medal — his first at Louth level — and now turns his focus to the upcoming Leinster Championships.
The Under 17 girls’ race was dominated by Chloe Cooney, who delivered a commanding performance to take gold. Having missed last year’s event through injury, the victory adds another county title to her name.
In the Under 17 boys’ race, held alongside the Under 19s, Liam Lynch placed fourth overall, followed closely by Daniel Hanley and Cillian Sheridan, both of whom ran well.
The Under 19 girls’ race saw Eimear Cooney, who recently signed athletics scholarship terms with Boston University, claim silver after a hard-fought battle in a competitive field.
In the Under 19 boys’ race, Rhys Clarke added another silver medal for Ace AC, finishing second overall, with Jamie O’Reilly close behind in third and Fergus Nolan also running strongly to complete a great team performance.
With medals across multiple age categories and impressive runs from both seasoned and emerging athletes, Ace AC once again showcased its strength and depth at county level — and now looks ahead to the Leinster Championships with confidence.
