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Irish athletics fans will descend upon Castle Irvine Estate outside Enniskillen this Sunday (Nov 17th) for what promises to be a stellar weekend of athletics action as Ireland’s best cross-country athletes go in search of national glory and European selection at the 123.ie National Senior, Junior and Juvenile Even Age Cross Country Championships.
Those coveted podium places will be as sought-after as ever with the leading places securing selection on the Irish team set to compete at the European Cross Country Championships in Antalya, Türkiye, on 8 December. The European selection policy is can be found HERE.
It looks ultra-competitive across the full schedule of competition and the 2024 edition of the 123.ie National Cross Country Championships could throw up some surprises with athletes in both the senior men’s and women’s races taking on the shorter 7,500m distance.
Cormac Dalton (Mullingar Harriers) looks set to return in defence of his title in a stacked looking senior men’s race (2.50pm) which includes entries from the in-form Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers) and Hiko Tonosa (Dundrum South Dublin), as well as recent Autumn Open Cross Country champion Keelan Kilrehill (Moy Valley) who will be just three of Dalton’s likely challengers.
Fiona Everard (Bandon AC) looks to have timed her preparations perfectly as she bids to go back-to-back following last year’s breakout success at the senior cross in Gowran. Everard was 3rd at the Autumn Open Cross last month, following up that performance with a strong showing to take first place in the universities cross country which should leave her primed for another huge run.
Many eyes will be on West Limerick’s Íde Nic Dhómhnaill who finished ahead of Everard in second place at the Autumn Open, with the West Limerick athlete sure to lack little in the way of motivation following last year’s late withdrawal when looking one of the likely favourites.
The women’s race has a host of athletes entered on the back of recent marathon success, including national marathon champion Ann Marie McGlynn (Letterkenny AC). Cross country specialists Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise AC) and Danielle Donegan (Tullamore Harriers) head into the weekend on the back of strong recent performances on the grass.
There will be no shortage of support for the local athletes with Enniskillen’s Annabel Morrison sure to go well in the U20 race having placed 8th last year. Morrison comes into Sunday in great form following a win in Belfast last month, while clubmate Harry McKenzie also impressed at the Ulster champs and is sure to have plenty of local support in the men’s U20 race.
The action on Sunday will get underway with the U12 girls at 11:30 am building to a crescendo with senior women’s 7,500m and senior men’s 7,500m from 2.10pm.
The senior women’s race looks ultra-competitive this year and defending champion Fiona Everard (Bandon AC) is sure to need another huge performance if she is to become the first athlete to go back-to-back since Shona Heaslip in 2016 & 2017.
Everard thrived in the heavy underfoot conditions last year but has already shown her ability on the faster surface this season. The expected firm conditions over the shorter 7,500m route should do little to lessen her chances.
Íde Nic Dhómhnaill (West Limerick AC) will be a leading favourite for many on the back of her impressive second placed finish at the Autumn Open in October. Nic Dhómhnaill will be joined on the start-line by a host of athletes who will be eying up national glory, many of whom starred at last year’s European Cross Country Championships.
Danielle Donegan (Tullamore Harriers) and Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise AC) completed last year’s top three behind Everard, and both look set for big performances on Sunday.
Donegan comes into the weekend on the back of a win on the demanding Billy Neill course in Belfast which should have her primed for Sunday, while Mulhare signed off her preparations for nationals with an outing at the recent Cardiff Cross Challenge.
National marathon champion Ann Marie McGlynn (Letterkenny AC) could have a big say on Sunday’s proceedings if taking her place, while Aoife Kilgallon (Sligo AC) and Grace Lynch (DSD) could also look to transfer their form on the roads to the grass after superb national marathon medal winning performances.
North Belfast Harriers look to have a strong hand, and big runs can be expected from Gladys Ganiel and Emily Haggard Kearney, while the Dublin City Harriers challenge could be led by Olympian Jodie McCann who will likely be looking to secure selection for the European Cross mixed relay team.
Others sure to give their running include Nakita Burke (Letterkenny AC), Cheryl Nolan (St. Abbans AC), Megan Ryan (DSD), Lauren Tinkler (DCH) and Edel Monaghan (DCH), while few will discount the evergreen Lizzie Lee (Leevale) who could be one coming in under the radar.
The race for the U23 title will be hotly contested with a host of familiar names set to battle it out including as strong DSD contingent which includes Emma McEvoy and Eimear Maher. Amy Greene (Finn Valley), Roise Roberts (CNDR Track Club), Hannah Keogh (Kilkenny City Harriers), Avril Cashman (Youghal), Rebecca Rossiter (CNDR Track Club), Lucy Holmes (West Waterford AC), and Fiona Hawkins (DCH) are all sure to be with the leaders from the gun, while Hannah Gilliland (Annadale Striders) is in great form and could run into contention.
The U20 race is likely to see the recent Autumn Open (U20) champion Emily Bolton (Clonliffe Harriers) in the mix alongside the ever-impressive Anna Gardiner (East Down AC) and Kirsty Maher (Moy Valley AC) who both competed at the World Cross earlier this year.
Gardiner comes into the weekend as defending champion but will arguably face an even stiffer task this year. Youghal’s Avril Millerick could challenge for the podium once more, while Enniskillen’s Annabel Morrison is sure to revel in the home support, while big performances can be expected from Dearbhla Allen (St. Peter’s AC), Clodagh Gill (Moy Valley AC), and Pia Langton (Kilkenny City Harriers AC).
The pace is sure to be on from the gun with a leading pack likely to also include Eimear McCarroll (Finn Valley AC), Lucy Foster (Willowfield Harriers), Kirsti Charlotte Foster (Willowfield Harriers), and 800m specialist Saoirse Fitzgerald (Lucan Harriers AC) who is another intriguing entry.
Cormac Dalton (Mullingar Harriers AC) picked up his first national senior cross title in Gowran last year in ultra-impressive fashion. The Mullingar athlete will face what looks arguably an even tougher task to retain his crown, even in the absence of last year’s second (Kevin Mulcaire) and third (Hugh Armstong) placed finishers.
Dalton comes into the weekend on the back of an interrupted summer season, but a recent training block see’s the defending champion head for Castle Irvine with a realistic chance of retaining his crown.
There is going to be no shortage of challengers however, with the form of Keelan Kilrehill (Moy Valley AC) looking particularly strong on the back of his emphatic win at the Autumn Open. Kilrehill finished ahead of Sean Tobin (Clonmel AC) and Finley Daly (Sligo AC) on that occasion, and the trio could yet again be challenging for the leading placings on Sunday.
Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers) was 6th at last weekend’s Cardiff Cross and is one who will command much attention, while national marathon champion Hiko Tonosa (Dundrum South Dublin AC) could well take his place if having recovered sufficiently from his marathon exertions. Emmet Jennings (Dundrum South Dublin AC) boasts plenty of cross country experience while the shorter distance could very well play into the hands of Pierre Murchan (Dublin City Harriers) who impressed at the university cross country championships.
The senior team title looks hard to call but Clonliffe look to be well stacked once more. They will likely be pushed all the way by strong looking teams from fellow harriers in Mullingar and Kilkenny City, while Clonmel could very well run into contention.
The men’s U23 race will see Ennis Track with strong entry, led out by Mark Hanrahan and Niall Murphy who claimed the U20 title last year. Nick Griggs (CDNR Track Club) is sure to have unfinished business at these championships, with his recent second placed finish at the Bobby Rea International Cross Country sure to have him where he needs to be heading into Sunday.
Sean McGinley (Finn Valley AC) and Cathal O’Reilly (Kilkenny City Harriers) will be eying a top three finish, while Callum Morgan (Candour Track) and Matthew Lavery (North Belfast Harriers) are worth keeping a close eye on as the race reaches fever pitch.
There is also no shortage of talent in the men’s junior race with the division looking particularly strong again this year.
Jonas Stafford (UCD AC) was unlucky to be pipped for gold last year and is sure to have sights on going one better. The form of the U20 race at the Autumn Open looks particularly strong with Sean Quinn (Dundrum South Dublin), Noah Harris (Parnell AC), Lughaidh Mallon (Lagan Valley AC), and David Williams (Kilkenny City Harriers) sure to be in the shake up.
Caolan McFadden (Cranford AC) rarely goes away from a nationals empty handed and is sure to give the Cranford support plenty to cheer about, while Harry Colbert (Waterford AC), Billy Coogan (Kilkenny City Harriers), Sean Cronin (Clonliffe Harriers), Odhran McBrearty (Finn Valley AC), Cillian Gleeson (U18) Celbridge AC, and Louie Woodger (Metro/St. Brigids AC) will make the 1.45pm race one not to be missed.
There is sure to be plenty of drama across the schedule and it promises to be a thrilling day of action at this year’s edition of 123.ie National Senior, Junior and Juvenile Even Age Cross Country Championships.
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