Emma is All Ireland champion

AFTER weeks of local and regional competition, the cream of young Irish athletic talent competed at the much anticipated All-Ireland Schools' Cross Country final on Saturday, March 13 at the Cork Institute of Technology.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Mar 2010, 10:49 BST
Updated 22nd Mar 2010, 12:47 BST

Emma, from Banbridge High School, was in a tough inter girls race against Munster Schools’ champion, Amy O’Donoghue (Villiers School, Limerick), Claire Brennan (Castleknock Community College) and Ciara Hewson (Maynooth Post Primary School).

With a lap to go 16 year old Emma and Amy O’Donoghue where out on their own then, with just under 200m to go, Emma went for home and gained over 10 seconds on Amy to win her first All Ireland Schools title.

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Emma said, "I'm delighted with the way I ran. It's my first all Ireland title so I’m really happy. It was a lovely course, no hills and very clean. Usually I come home covered in muck but not today!"

Emma’s hunt for gold at the All Ireland School started with the school districts back on February 2 at the School Districts in Delamont Park where she had a great run. She started to pull away from the rest of the field with less than a lap to go and increased her lead all the way to the finish.

This qualified Emma for the Aviva Ulster Schools Final at Mallusk on Wednesday March 3. Just like in the districts Emma sat in leading pack for the first lap then with 1000m to go taking it in her stride Emma picked up the pace and left the rest of the field fighting for 2nd & 3rd place.

By the finish Emma had created a 24 second gap between her and second placed Laura Casey (St Michael’s Grammar, Lurgan). A great performance and she was cheered in all the way by two of Banbridge’s local Primary Schools Bridge IPS and Ballydown PS who had made the final of the Athletics Northern Ireland Primary Schools Cross Country League.

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After winning the All Ireland title Emma is now set to represent Ireland at the Schools International in Truro Corwall on Saturday March 27.

While concentrating hard on Cross Country Emma still managed to run in the Irish Senior Indoor Championships at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast on February 6-7. Emma, competing for Banbridge AC, took part in the 800mrs at her first senior track and field competition.

Emma qualified from her heat on the Saturday night where she equalled her PB from the year before, then in the final she was up against runners like European Youth Olympics Gold medalist and Irish Junior record holder Ciara Mageean.

Emma raced well to finish seventh with a new PB of 2.14.42. This ranks Emma fourth in the UK for U17 800m runners.

With one more cross country left this year Emma can look forward to a very successful track and field season, starting in May with the schools districts.