Results 2023

The collegiate cross country scene in the US is hotting up right now. Colleges in their preparation for the Conference Championships enter their athletes in various “Invitational” events. Over the weekend two of our stateside athletes were involved. Maebh Richardson, who like her older sister Aoife, is a student in Portland Oregon. Her race at the weekend was the Nuttycombe Invitational in Wisconsin. There she placed 143 out of 247 athletes. Other sister Grace, representing New York, was at the Connecticut Invitational where she had a fab run coming home in second place from 183 athletes. 

Our athletes, juveniles and adults, did us proud at the Open Cross-country in Abbottstown today.  

Four teams competed in the 4x500m relays with the girls u11 (Kate Kelly, Ella O’Flaherty, Ellen Ryan, Julia Daly , Madeline Kemple)bringing home gold. The u11 boys (Cathal Comerford, Tom Hardiman, Brandon Maher, Eoin Hoyne, Tadhg McGuinnes ) were also competitive and finishes 8th. The under 13 girls (Emma Kelly, Eva Arslan, Amelia O’Brien, Katie Byrne, Lucy Maher) won silver and the under 13 boys (RuadhanMcGuinness, Daire O’Flaherty, Fiach Crowley, Daniel Green and Harry Green) were 6th.

The adults were also in good form. Eoin Everard clinched the O/35 win while Padraig Ruane placed 14th. Cathal O’Reilly was 6th in the senior race in 25.10 and Jamie Gahan was 20th in 26.34.

For the juniors Isabella Burke was 23 in the ladies and the men had Billy Coogan 2nd, Myles Hewlett 10th and Ruairi McEvoy 26th. 

Well done all.

Our Novice Ladies and Novice Men did the club proud at the County Novice Championships in Castlecomer today. Thanks to Kate Millea, Declan Walshe and Padraig Ruane organising the teams so that everyone had a team supporting. The ladies were away first and a great performance by Grainne Behan saw her take the individual silver. Gretta Beckett 6th, Aibhlin Murphy 8th and Aisling Gannon 10th completed the scoring and ensured the gold medal position for the team.

The men were surely out in force – all eleven of them, and while individual medals were not won the team performances were adequate compensation  – taking first team and third team medals. Placings were as follows:- 4 Andrew Smith, 5 Graham Bourne, 8 Mick Cullen, 9 Paul Bolger, 12 John Murphy, 13 Paddy Walsh, 14 Danny Quinn, 16 David Lawlor, 17 Bernard O’Driscoll, 26 James Gaule, 28 Sean O hArgain.

We had lovely summer-like weather for Day 2 of the county cross country championships in Castlecomer today. KCH carried in a slight lead for the overall juvenile shield from day one. Great running and great numbers in our younger age cohorts extended that lead and enabled the club to win the shield for best cross country club in the county for 2023. Team points were awarded as follows:- Under 11s (6points) – Girls second team, Boys first and third teams; Under 13s (7points) – girls first team, boys first and third teams; Under 17 girls (2points) – second team.

Individual Results –

Under 9- Girls- 1 Edie Kemple, 4 Winter Rose Molloy, 6 Isabel Hoyne; Boys – 3 Cian McIntyre, 8 Eoin Gibbs, 9 Sam Greene.

Under 11 – Girls- 1 Kate Kelly, 4 Ella O’Flaherty, 5 Mealla Crowley, 14 Casey Cleere, 22 Caoimhe Malone, 23 Grace O’Shea, 33 Madeline Kemple. Boys – 2 Daniel McIntyre, 4 Eoin Hoyne, 6 Brandon Maher, 7 Daniel Quinn, 8 Cillian Maher, 9 Tadgh McGuinness, 16 James Healy, 22 Conor Delaney.

Under 13 -Girls – 1 Katie Byrne, 2 Emma Kelly, 7 Hannah Ryan, 12 Lucy Maher, 21 Ellie O’Shea. Boys – 1 Daniel Greene, 5 Ruadhan McGuinness, 7 Fiach Crowley, 8 Peter Quinn, 9 Darragh O’Callaghan, 12 Aidan Malone, 14 Daniel Devine, 16 Harry Greene, 23 Cody Butler.

Under 15 – Girls -1 Sinead Cormack, 4 Ellen Cormack, 11 Hannah Devine. Boys – 1 Kyrell Mtinsi, 8 Comnor Malone, 13 Sam McAvinney.

Under 17 – Girls – 2 Pia Langton, 3 Clodagh O’Callaghan, 8 Hazel Coogan, 10 Eimear Cormack, 13 Evelyn McEvoy; Boys – 4 Donnacha Maher.

Under 19  – Girls- 1 Isabella Burke. 

Thankfully the weather today was so much an improvement on yesterdays. It made for better competition on a well organised course thanks to local club, St Joseph’s. For KCH this was a good day from start to finish. With a better turnout in some of the age groups it could have been an amazing day. 

In the non-championship under 8 it was Summer Nova with an 8th place finish who carried the KCH colours in the girls race. The boys with four finishers in the top ten were flying – 1 Cian McIntyre, 3 John Cleere, 6 John Kelly and 10 Darragh O’Connell.

The under 10s won loads of medals with the girls team placing second and the boys had teams in first and second place – Girls: 2 Eddie Kemple, 8 Winter Rose Molloy, 17 Rosie Devine, 25 Ella Burke. Boys: 1 Daniel McIntyre, 2 Danny Quinn, 4 Cillian Maher, 6 Conor Lawerence, 7 Brian O’Callaghan, 8 James Healy, 10 Sam Breen, 13 Darragh Sweeney, 15 Harry Healy, 17 Kenny Lowry.

The under 12 girls were second team with 1 Kate Kelly, 5 Ava Arslan, 7 Ella O’Flaherty, 16 Blaithin Stokes. Daniel Greene won individual gold for under 12 boys.

The under 14 girls were first team – 1 Sinead Cormack, 2 Katie Byrne, 5 Ellen Cormack, 6 Emma Kelly, 14 Hannah Devine. Best for the boys were 8 Daire O’Flaherty and 10 David Devine.

The under 16 girls had 1 Clodagh O’Callaghan, 4 Eimear Cormack, 5 Evelyn McEvoy while the boys were first team with Kyrell Mitnsi leading in the team. 1 Kyrell, 4 Conor Ryan, 9 Conor Malone, 12 Donnacha Maher, 13 Sam McAvinney. 

The under 18 girls took the silver team medals. Team results were 3 Pia Langton, 6 Hazel Coogan, 7 Kate Aylmer, 11 Aoife Fitzgerald, 12 Ruth Cody. Ruairi McEvoy took individual gold in the boys race.

For the seniors the men were very impressive with the first four places going to KCH – 1 Eoin Everard, 2 Cathal O’Reilly, 3 Brian Maher, 4 Jamie Gahan, 7 Eamon O’Connor, 11 Graham Bourne, 21 Danny Quinn. The ladies finished in second place. Much thanks to Ruth Cody who finished 15th to complete the team. Ruth had already run the under 18 girls race. The other team scorers were 6 Orla McPhillips, 7 Grainne Behan and 13 Kate Millea. 

Well done all. The juveniles have set a slight lead ahead of round two in Castlecomer on Sunday next. So best wishes for a good turnout and an equally good performance.

Once the St Senan’s Open cross-country appears it means the cross-country season is up and running. A small number from KCH travelled for the event. A bad weather forecast didn’t deter those seeking competition and a meaning-full preparation for the upcoming county championships.

Individual medals were won at U8, U10 and U12. U8- Cian McIntyre won bronze; U10 – Daniel McIntyre won gold and Daniel Quinn won bronze. U12 – Daniel Greene won gold and Kate Kelly won bronze. 

The under 13 boys took on the under 14 race and were rewarded with first team medallions – team members were Daire O’Flaherty, Ruadhain McGuinness, Fiach Crowley and Aidan Malone. The under 13 girls were one short for a team but three who ran were excellent – Katie Byrne, Emma Kelly and Hannah Kehoe.

Well done all and best wishes in the upcoming season. Many thanks to parents and coaches. Your help is vital for the support of young athletes.