McGrath Nicholson and Madigan Feature in Antrim International Cross-Country 2017

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Cork Trio To The Fore in Greenmount

Greenmount, Antrim, Northern Ireland

Saturday January 14th 2017

East Cork AC's Sean McGrath finished a fine 21st, and third scorer on the Irish team, in the High Calibre Antrim International Cross-Country, while, in the Under 17 races, two Cork athletes, Bandon AC's Laura Nicholson and North Cork AC's Damian Madigan ran on the respective Girls and Boys Ireland Development teams.

Bandon AC's Laura Nicholson, in 12th place, was third scorer on the Ireland Development Squad in the Girls Under 17 event, while, in the Boys Under 17 event, North Cork AC's Damian Madigan was fourth home, also in 12th place, for the Ireland Development Squad

Irish Mens Team: Liam Brady (11th), David Flynn (19th) and Sean McGrath (21st)

 Irish Girls Under 17 Team:
Roseanne McCullough, 15th, Abbie Taylor, 2nd, Claire Rafter, 9th, and Laura Nicholson (Bandon AC), 12th

North Cork AC's Damian Madigan

Despite losing one of her spikes, while lying in second position, in the final lap, Fionnuala McCormack (Kilcoole) finished fourth over 6km, at the IAAF Antrim International Cross Country in Greenmount, Antrim. The race was won by Kenya’s Caroline Chepkoech Kipkirui in 18:53 to McCormack’s 19:39.

The Wicklow woman was backed up by fellow Irish internationals Maria McCambridge (DSD), Shona Heaslip (An Riocht), and Laura Shaughnessy (DSD) who finished 11th, 12th and 13th respectively. There were a number of good Irish performances on the day including Jodie McCann (DSD) winning the U17 race.

Maria McCambridge, Fionnuala Britton, Shone Heaslip and Laura Shaughnessy

Senior, Master & International Women’s 5600m

Athletics Northern Ireland Report

As predicted the race was the usual frantic sprint from the gun. The high quality field did not appear to be intimated by the blustery wind and rain or the energy sapping mud. At the end of the first lap there was the usual phalanx of African athletes plus former double winner Fionnuala McCormack fighting a lone battle for European runners.

Former African Junior Champion Caroline Kipkirui of Kenya, Ethiopian Gotytom Gebreslase, team mate Birtukan Adamu plus McCormack were well clear of the field which was led by England’s Pippa Woolvan.

There is was a dramatic change in the second lap, where an inform Kipkirui seemed to glide over the mud and quickly opened a 30 metres gap over the chasing pack. Pippa Woolvan remained in 5th place closely followed by England’s Claire Duck.

In the closing stages Kipkirui extended her lead for a convincing 42 seconds winning margin ahead of Gebreslase. McCormack suffered the misfortune of losing a shoe in the final lap and had to settle for 4th place in a sprint finish behind Adamu, whose 3rd place reflected her position from 2015. England’s Woolvan and Duck were 5th and 6th.

A delighted Kipkirui said “God gave me the strength to win this race. I pushed a bit on the second lap, but nobody followed closely behind. I think my 10,000m time of 31 mins 16 secs from last year helped me a lot over this course. I normally spend 2 months training in California and will be back there again to get another fast time.“

“I am going back to Kenya now to qualify for the world cross country in Kampala, Uganda. My main plan this summer is the world 10,000m in London.”

A somewhat down beat McCormack commented “I am disappointed with my run, mostly because I lost a shoe with 1km remaining. If this hadn’t have happened I would more than likely have obtained second place. I like Greenmount, but I didn’t have a particularly good day.”

“I am aiming for the Marathon in the London World Championships and I am also hoping I might qualify for the 10,000m.”

Womens Results - Top 20

Full Results - Atheltics Northern Ireland website (XLS file)

Senior, Master & International Men’s 8200m

Athletics Northern Ireland Report

"There was yet another hectic pace from the start with the usual African favourites well to the fore. The quality line up included Rio Olympic Steeplechase Champion Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya, Rio 10,000m finalist Abraham Cheroben, Euro-Cross 5th place Andy Vernon, plus former European Silver Medallist Hassan Chahdi all of whom where in the leading bunch at the end of the first lap.

After the completion of the second lap a trio comprising of Cheroben, Kipruto and Vernon had broken clear of England’s Jonathan Taylor, who was running well some 40 metres back.

It was clear on the third lap that victory was the preserve of either Cheroben or Kipruto. They commenced a brutal sprint battle 200 metres from the line, with the Olympic Champion just gaining the verdict by 1 second from Cheroben, in 24 mins 36 secs. Vernon was an impressive 3rd some 19 seconds further back, followed by Chahdi (24.20). Taylor was 5th in 25.27 with Scotland’s Lachlan Oates, 6th in 25.54.

Kipruto said “I had a problem with my back before the race, but I got treatment and it didn’t affect me today. I liked the course and I waited to the very end before I increased my sprint.”

“Being an Olympic Champion has changed my life, I got silver in the World Championships in Beijing and I am determined to make that gold in London this summer.”

A pleased Vernon said “this was my hardest race this season. The course was just a bog and I couldn’t get a rhythm. You just have to live with it. This was much better than Edinburgh last week and I am now getting back to something like the old Andy Vernon. I will be running a cross country race in Belgium, followed by a half marathon."

Full Results - Atheltics Northern Ireland website (XLS file)

Mens Results - Top 25

 Girls Under 17 Results - Top 15

Boys Under 17 Results - Top 15

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