Emma in top form heading into Rás
ATHLETICS ROUND-UP
DUNLEER AC nine-year-old Emma Cheshire ran fast from gun to tape to take the AllIreland Under-11 title at the Woodie's DIY Juvenile 'B' Cross-Country Championships at Boyle last weekend.
She was backed over the 800m course by Aoife Reynolds, Seaghna Campbell, Seoda Matthews, Ciara Butterly, Ellen Murray and Aoife Howard, and Dunleer scooped the club team title as a result.
Emma, Aoife, Seaghna and Seoda also helped County Louth to second in the County event. In the Boys Under-11 race Liam Connaughton and Kevin Ledwith helped Louth to County bronze and the Dunleer boys were supported by Conor Matthews, Ronan Kelly and Ryan Kelly.
Others to do well for Dunleer AC were the Under-13 pair of Shane Cheshire and Niamh Connaughton.
The Intermediate Championship was also held, and Dunleer's Martin Quinn finished a creditable fifth.
In the Men's Masters 7,000m, James Rothwell finished 35th, with Bob Doheny also running well, and in the ladies section Mary O'Brien, Sandra Doheny and Jacqueline Matthews completed the 4,000m, a pre-Rás runout.
Across the Atlantic, Tomás Cotter continued his good form indoors in Michigan where he recorded a PB 800m in 1:56.14. His team Iowa state finished third in the medley relay where Cotter ran the mile leg in a fast 4:12.
All of Dunleer AC's juveniles will be in action next Sunday when the club hosts the Rás na hÉireann International Cross Country at Oldbridge, Drogheda, from noon.
There will be races for all ages and abilities, girls and boys, men and women, including a 2km Fit4Life event at 3.30pm. The highlight of the day will be the International Men's and Women's races after the juvenile races.
