Junior Talent Debut at International U18 Mountain Running Cup
28 June 2022
A young team of aspiring NI & Ulster U18 athletes took part in the International U18 Mountain Running Cup in Saluzzo, Italy on Sunday 26th June.
For many of the talented team, this was their first International Selection and their opportunity to wear the NI & Ulster vest, across the 4.35km distance, with a 155m ascent and descent. This year saw the return of the International U18 Cup, after two years of covid- related cancellations.
The route began with a short 550m loop around the centre of Saluzzo, before runners went on a long 3.8km loop into the hillsides west of the town.
The Girls team, consisted of Finn Valley AC’s Eimear McCarroll; Mid Ulster AC’s Niamh Campbell and Lagan Valley AC’s Jessica Blaney, who all worked together to finish in 11th place overall with a total of 111 points.
The first NI & Ulster athlete across the line was Eimear McCarroll in a time of 21:09, following by Niamh Campbell, making her NI & Ulster debut and finishing in 23:13, with Jessica Blaney finishing in 23:42.
The boys team, of North Down AC’s Ben Acheson; Down High School’s Oliver Robinson; Newcastle & District AC’s Ethan McMullan and Slieve Gullion Runners’ Joshua Muckian finished in 13th place overall with 127 points in total.
Leading the way was Joshua Muckian, in a time of 19:05, while Ben Acheson finished in 19:55, followed by Oliver Robinson in 20:03 and Ethan McMullan in a time of 21:12.
We want to congratulate all of the athletes and their coaches, for their selections and their brilliant performances on an International stage.