A brave effort by Fionnuala McCormack saw her finish fifth in the women’s race at this morning’s “European” Cross-Country Championships which was dominated by two Africans running for Turkey. In third place and the true European champion was Karolina Grovdal of Norway, who was followed in fourth by Ancuta Bobecel of Romania. The “Plastic Turks” beat Great Britain for team gold.
Even more depressing was the men’s senior race where six of the top ten were African. Also in the top ten were known dopers proudly wearing their “I Run Clean” bibs. Truly you could not make it up. Finishing third and first European was Britain’s Callum Hawkins, who was followed home by Andrew Butchart and Andy Vernon, ensuring that the Brits whupped Spain and Turkey for the team gold, although only by four points.
In the men’s junior race, Mullingar’s Jack O’Leary, who came home from his US college to run, produced the race of his young life to finish sixth. Winner was Jakob Ingebrigststen of Norway, with Yohanes Chiappinella of Italy second and Britain’s Mahamed Mahamed third. France was first team, followed by Spain and Great Britain with Ireland 6th.
Pre-race favorite Konstnaze Klostehalfen of Germany was a comfortable winner of the junior women’s race ahead of Anna Emilie Moller of Denmark and Harriet Knowles Jones, who was leading Great Britain to team victory. Britain – the true home of cross-country – took team medals in all six races – three golds, one silver and two bronze.
Note: Current IAAF rules state that an athlete can compete for another nation after sitting out for 12 months if their original country does not object. If there is an objection then athletes must wait for three years before switching. However there is a loophole (from an amendment of 12 March 2012) that allows athletes to compete for their “new” country without sitting it out for a year. The athlete simply applies for an exemption no later than a month before the competition they wish to compete in. According to Athletics Weekly, Vivian Jemutai aka Yasemin Can got her Turkish passport in May 2015 and was cleared to compete for Turkey in March 2016. She lives and trains in Kenya.
Kilmore’s Fiona Kehoe and JP Williamson of Derry Track Club took the men and women’s titles at the Irish Life Health National Novice Cross Country Championships in Dundalk IT today. In the women’s race, Kehoe came home ahead of North Down pair Jessica Craig and Rachel Gibson. Sportsworld won the team title ahead of Leevale and Dunboyne.
In the men’s race, Williamson reeled in the early leader Scott Rankin of Foyle Valley for victory. Third was Conan McCaughey of Derry Track Club. Clonliffe Harriers beat Derry Track Club and North Belfast Harriers for the team title.
Also taking place were the national juvenile uneven ages championships, with Donore’s Louis O’Loughlin and Abi Taylor of DSD making it a Dublin double in the U17 age group. At U19 level, Stephanie Cotter of West Muskerry and DSD’s Paul O’Donnell were the winners.
VINCENT MURPHY was the winner of the Simon Turkey Trot 5km, organised by Cork BHAA, when he ran a time of 20 mins 59 secs – exactly to the second what he had predicted.
Spar European C-C Championships, Chia, Italy.www.chia2016.eu
Women – U20: 1 Konstanze Klosterhalfen (Ger) 12.26, 2 Anna Emilie Moller (Den) 12.43, 3 Harriet Knowles Jones (GBR) 12.52. Irish – 24 Amy Rose Farrell (Blackrock) 13.35, 31 Carla Sweeney (WSAF) 13.40, 55 Sophie Murhpy (DSD) 13.43, 55 Aisling Joyce (Claremorris) 14.08, 64 Emma O’Brien (Inbhear Dee/Sli Cualann) 14.18, 72 and Jodie McCann (DSD) 14.38. Teams – 1 Great Britain 33, 2 Germany 57, 3 Netherlands 71. Ireland: 1, 2. Germany, 3. Netherlands….10 Ireland 148
U23: 1 Sofia Ennaoui (Pol) 19.21, 2 Anna Gehring (Ger) 19.24, 3 Alice Wright (GBR) 19.42. Irish – 46 Bethanie Murray (DSD) 21.24, 48 Amy O’Donoghue (Emerald) 21.47. Teams – 1 Great Britain 26, 2 Germany 33, 3 Italy 67.
Senior: 1 Vivian Jemutai aka Yasemin Can (Tur)24.46, 2 Mirriam Jepchirchir aka Meryem Akda (Tur) 24.56, 3 Karoline Grovdal (Nor) 25.26, 4 Ancuta Bobocel (Rom) 25.27, 5 Fionnuala McCormack (Ire) 25.28, 6 Steph Twell (GBR) 25.40. Other Irish – 31 Ciara Mageean (UCD) 26.55, 33 Michelle Finn (Leevale) 26.58, 54 Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle) 27.25, 59 Shona Heaslip (Riocht) 27.50, 60 Laura Crowe (Riocht) 27.51. Teams – 1 Turkey 35, 2 Great Britain 51, 3 Romania 79…. 6 Ireland 123.
Men – U20: 1 Jakon Ingebrigtsen (Nor) 17.06, 2 Yohanes Chiappinelli (Ita) 17.14, 3 Mahamed Mahamed (GBR) 17.16. Irish: 6 Jack O’Leary (Mullingar Hrs) 17.21, 25 Peter Lynch (KCH) 17.54, 39 Darragh McElhinney (Bantry) 18.05, 47 Barry Keane (Waterford) 18.14, 61 Fearghal Curtin (Youghal) 18.35, 76 Charlie O’Donovan (Leevale) 19.09. Teams – 1 France 26, 2 Spain 42, Great Britain 43…6 Ireland 117.
U23: 1 Isaac Kimeli (Bel) 22.48, 2 Carlos Mayo (Spa) 22.53, 3 Yemaneberhan Crippa (Ita) 22.54. Irish – 59 Karl Fitzmaurice (Ennis Track) 24.56, 67 Mitchell Byrne (Rathfarnham WSAF) 26.51. Teams – 1 Italy 35, 2 Belgium 53, 3 Great Britain 58.
Senior: 1 Amos Kibitok aka Aras Kaya (Tur) 27.39, 2 Paul Kipkosgei Kemboi aka Polat Arikan (Tur) 27.42, 3 Callum Hawkins (GBR) 27.49, 4 Andrew Butchart (GBR) 28.01, 5 Andy Vernon (GBR) 28.11. Irish– 36 Paul Pollock (Annadale Striders) 29.42, 43 Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock) 30.57, 56 Mark Christie (Mullingar Hrs) 30.24, 62 Liam Brady (Tullamore Hrs) 30.57, 65, Mark Hanrahan (Leevale) 31.34, 69 Kevin Dooney (Raheny Shamrock) 31.53. Teams – 1 Great Britain 28, 2 Spain 32, 3 Turkey 38… 10 Ireland 197.
Cork BHAA Simon Turkey Trot 5km. www.corkbhaa.com
Men: 1 Denis O’Regan 16.34, 2 Frank Quinlan 16.38, 3 Alan Lehane 16.52. Women: 1 Carley Cooke 20.44, 2 Orla Crosbie 21.25, 3Beidget Daly 31.34. Handicap winner – Vincent Murphy
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