Friday, February 10, 2012
Sean Tobin claimed his fourth Aviva Munster Schools’ cross-country title in a row yesterday with a power-packed display at the CIT Sports Complex in Bishopstown.
A first year senior at High School, Clonmel, he led the race from the start, although it appeared for a time as if Ian Ó Hairtneid (Coláiste Daibheid, Corcaigh) might take him before his challenge faded and he finished fifth.
Tobin, who finished fourth in the 3,000m at last year’s Youth Olympics in Trabzon, Turkey, said: "That’s something that still bothers me. I was gutted I did not get a medal. This year Ill drop down the 1,500m with the world junior championships as the goal."
Kyle Larkin (Ard Scoil Ris, Limerick) stamped his authority on the intermediate boys’ race to win impressively from another of the pre-race favourites, Cillian O’Donovan (Coláiste na Sceilge, Carherciveen), with Stephen Rooney (Ennis Community College) third.
One has to go back a long time to recall the days when Coláiste Chríost Ri and the North Mon dominated those championships and Chríost Rí heralded their return in yesterday’s junior boys’ race, where Lucas Ó Horgain, a nephew of former Villanovan sub four-minute miler, Ken Nason, powered his way to victory, chased by another exciting find, Ethiopian-born Abidrahman Mahamed.
It was a big performance from Ó Horgain, who had surgery for appendicitis two months ago, while his teammate, who arrived in Ireland three years ago, is having his first cross-country season. They finished first and second in the South Munsters as well. Their combined performance helped Coláiste Chríost Rí to the team title.
Fergal Curtin led Midleton CBS to the minor boys’ title as he finished ahead of Eoin Looney (St Joseph’s, Spanish Point) and Killian O’Dwyer (Thurles CBS).
Bronagh Croke (Crescent Comprehensive College, Limerick), who was having her first race back from injury, added the senior girls’ title to her Munster track and field 3,000m win.
Aisling Quinn (Ursuline, Waterford), whose father, Brendan, still holds the Irish steeplechase record, was a very convincing winner of the intermediate girls’ race. She won the Irish schools 1500m title on the track last year as well as recording an 800m/1500m double at the national under-age championships. Tomorrow, her older brother, Shane, who is a scholarship student at Providence College, will compete in the mile at Boston University.
Niamh Casey (Mercy, Waterford) won the junior girls’ title from Eimer Loughman (Ursuline, Thurles) and Laura Cooke (Villiers School) while the minor girls’ title went to Aoife Ni Urmholtaigh (Mean Scoil San Nioclas, An Rinn) ahead of Fiona Everard (Maria Immaculata CC, Dunmanway) and Aisling Kelly (St Joseph’s, Spanish Point).
Douglas Community School won the senior and intermediate boys’ team titles to maintain their supremacy in those age groups.
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