Presentation senior girls’ team take bronze at the Munster Cross Country Championship

The Munster’s Cross Country Championship was held in Carriaganore in County Waterford on February24.

Sixteen of our athletes qualified for this event from the East Munsters, which was also held at the same venue.

The calibre of cross country athletes was at its peak here, as qualification from these races would bring them to an All-Ireland Schools Cross Country Final.

Our Minor team was the first to take to the course. The overall pace of this race was fast, but Lucy Gleeson was more than up to the task.

She stuck amongst the top of the pack and finished in an impressive eighth place, which gave her an individual qualification for the All-Ireland in March.

Anna Crawford and Orlaith Corcoran also had quite impressive runs, but unfortunately the overall team placed just outside of qualification for the next stage.

Attention then turned to the Junior Girls’ race. This race consisted of many club runners from around Munster.

Solid performances from Emma Delaney, Kate Delaney and Tara Moquet would mean an overall team standing of fifth place.
Lastly, we had the eagerly awaited Senior Girls’ race. We had our school’s most experienced runners: Cathy Ryan Dundon, Kate Ralph, Kate O’Keeffe and Lucy Doyle. Each of the girls pushed themselves out of their comfort zone.

Kate Ralph ran a strong pace throughout and finished twelfth in this race. Both Cathy Ryan Dundon and Kate O’Keeffe passed out runners in the remaining two hundred meters of this race.

This last grasp effort proved very effective, as they took bronze in the overall team standings.

The overall score between schools was so tight that, there was only one single point between third and fourth.

The whole Senior team have now qualified for the All-Ireland Schools Cross Country Finals on March 11.

We wish our seven athletes. The very best of luck at this event, and know they will do themselves and our school proud.

Contributed to School Days in the Tipperary Star.