Mayo sisters among favourites in upcoming schools cross country races
This Saturday will see close to 1,000 athletes battle it out for honours at the 123.ie All-Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships, which take place at Mallusk Playing Fields, Park Road, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, on Saturday (March 7).
It promises to be another thrilling day of cross-country running, with the action getting underway with the minor girls’ race at 12 noon.
The intermediate races are scheduled for 1.30 p.m. and 1.50 p.m., with the girls’ race set to include the now-familiar names of twin sisters Freya and Holly Renton (Sacred Heart School, Westport), who finished first and fourth respectively last year.
Freya led the field home on that occasion in a race that also included current European Under 20 cross-country medallist Emma Hickey, who has since moved up to the senior ranks.
The Renton sisters, who once again dominated the Connacht Schools Cross Country Championships this year, and are likely to face strong challenges from fellow provincial winners, including Madison Welby (Friends School, Lisburn), last year’s junior champion, Munster champion Saoirse Ferguson (St. Angela’s Waterford), and Leinster champion Isabel O’Reilly (St. Andrew’s).
The intermediate boys’ race should be another compelling watch, with Darragh Whelan (Castletroy College) stepping up from last year’s junior success as he looks to build on his dominant win at the Munster Championships. Strong performances are also expected from Kyrell Mtinsi (St. Kieran’s, Kilkenny), Evan Tosh (Belfast Royal Academy), and Greg Lyons (St. Clare’s, Manorhamilton).
The senior races will welcome several of the rising stars of Irish cross country. Odhrán McBrearty (St. Columba’s, Stranorlar) won last year’s intermediate title and will be right in contention once again. Andrew Hinds (Presentation Brothers Cork College), who finished second to McBrearty last year, impressed again this season by claiming the senior Munster title. Others expected to feature prominently include Noah Watt (Campbell College, Belfast), Jamie Wallace (Coláiste Mhuire) and Lucas Lyons (St. Clare’s, Manorhamilton).
The senior girls’ race also promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with a host of Ireland’s most exciting endurance athletes set to take their place. Under 20 European Cross Country bronze medallist Emma Hickey (St. Mary’s, New Ross) is expected to compete following her fifth-place finish in the 1,500m at last weekend’s National Senior Indoor Championships.
The line-up is also set to include Dearbhla Allen (St. Mary’s College), who finished third in the race last year, along with Saoirse Twomey (St. Mary’s), Freya Woodhead (Methodist College, Belfast) and Emma Brennan (Moyne CS), all of whom claimed their respective provincial schools titles.