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JESSICA CRAIG IMPRESSES MOST AT HOME COUNTRIES XC

25 March 2017

JESSICA CRAIG IMPRESSES MOST AT HOME COUNTRIES XC

JESSICA CRAIG IMPRESSES MOST AT HOME COUNTRIES XC

Current NI & Ulster Senior XC Champion Jessica Craig (North Down AC) was the star performer as a 13 strong Athletics NI squad took on teams from England, Scotland and Wales at the Home Countries International XC in Port Talbot, Wales this weekend (Saturday 25th March 2017).

Jessica capped an excellent cross country campaign by leading the Northern Ireland & Ulster Senior Ladies team to a respectable 5th place in the international team competition.  Individually, the North Down AC lady outpaced several household names to claim 11th place after covering the 7,110m course in 27:20.  Amy Bulman (Willowfield Harriers) also impressed with a 14th place finish in 27:31 - Rachel Gibson (North Down AC) crossed the line in 29:07 for 20th place.

In the Senior Men’s 10,110m race, North Belfast Harriers’ Mark McKinstry showed no signs of fatigue after his win over the half marathon distance in Larne last week when he led the NI men home in 33:42 (14th place).  Senior XC Champion Aaron Doherty (City of Derry AC) and in-form David O’Flaherty (Newcastle AC) recorded 35:00 (19th place) and 36:25 (21st place) respectively.  The Senior Men’s team finished in 6th place.

In the Under 20 Ladies 5,220m event, Dromore AC’s Rebekah Nixon clocked 21:25 for an impressive 23rd place, finishing just over a minute ahead of emerging Omagh Harriers athlete Toni Moore, who ran 22:27 (29th place).  Rioghnach Catney (North Down AC) followed in 30th place with 22:46, while Laura Gardiner (East Down AC) completed the course in 24:12 (32nd place).  The Under 20 Ladies team claimed 7th place. 

North Down AC’s Craig McMeechan and City of Lisburn AC’s Tom Baird were Northern Ireland’s only representatives in the Under 20 Men’s 7,100m event, with Craig clocking 24:46 for 23rd place and Tom 26:07 for 30th place. 

SIAB International XC

In the associated SIAB Schools International XC, which saw a number of familiar faces represent the Ireland Schools team, Strathearn Belfast’s Amelia Kane impressed most.  Amelia put in an outstanding performance to secure 12th place in a talent laden Under 15 Junior Girls race, after running 16:02 for 4,090m.

Full results for the Home Countries International XC and SIAB International XC can be found HERE (http://welshresults.athletics-uk.org/)

 

Sourced: NiRunning