Honours for Dromore athletes at races

THE cross country season got off to a good start for Dromore Athletic Club with medal winning performances and international representive honours for their athletes.

University of Ulster Jordanstown was the venue for the Northern Ireland and Ulster even age groups cross country championships with the first 12 in each race winning medals and qualifying for the All-Ireland finals at the end of November.

Rebekah Nixon got the Dromore club off to a medal winning start in the U14 girls 2000m race with an outstanding performance over the two laps claiming the bronze at the finish for her superb run and is also eligible for the same age group next year.

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Rebekah has also been selected as the winner of the Ulster Athletic Council Juvenile Star Award for Co. Down in the 13-15 age category by the Council for 2010.

The U14 boys 2000m race saw another great performance, this time from Timothy McCracken in what was a fast and furious race from start to finish with Timothy’s excellent run taking him home in 11th place and his championship medal.

More medals and super runs were on display from the Dromore athletes, this time in the U16 girls 4000m race.

The kincaid twins added another two to their growing tally with them both having outstanding runs to finish in the top ten with Victoria in fifth and Maria in 8th. Also in the same race Molly Dixon, having her first ever race, had a great run to finish 27th in a quality field and should be very happy with her debut.

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Meanwhile at the Billy Neill Playing Fields, Dundonald, Dromore athletes at the other end of the age scale were competing in the masters selection cross country races for the Northern team for the Home Internationals in Santry, Dublin on November 13.

When the hotly contested races were over and the spikes were put away the Dromore club ended up with seven athletes on the Northern Ireland team for their superb efforts. The same can be said of those from the club who just missed out but all had cracking runs on the day.

Those selected for the team are Gillian Burns, Catherine McCluskey, Mary Mackin, Brian McKee, Nigel McKibbin, Nigel Grier and Ernie Hall.

Gillian lead her club team mates home in the women’s 5.5k race, finishing second O35, followed by Catherine McCluskey (third O40), Mary Mackin (first O55), Aine McNeill (fifth O45) and Diane McKee (fifth O40).

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In the men’s 8k race Brian McKee was the first club athlete home, finishing second O45, closely followed by Nigel McKibbin (eighth O40), Nigel Grier (eighth O45), Michael Stewart (11th O40), Ernie Hall (fourth O55) and David Allen (16th O40).

The next day in Phoenix Park, Dublin a large number of Ireland’s top athletes gathered for the Gerry Farnham cross country races with the senior and junior men’s races over five miles and the women’s senior and junior races over three miles.

Also running in both races were the male and female vets as this was the selection races for the Irish Masters team for the Home International in November at Santry.

Julie Turley took the opportunity to race against some of Ireland’s best over the three miles and had a magnificent run to finish sixth in a top quality field.

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In the vets race Geraldine Branagh had a fantastic run as it was a large field with the knowledge that the international would be held on home soil this year.

With only the top three in each category being selected on race day Geraldine’s great run got her third place in the O45 section and her place on the Irish team.