Running the rule over Ireland’s top young talent

THE country’s most exciting young middle distance running talent compete in the All-Ireland Schools’ Cross-Country championship at the Cork IT campus today (noon).

The senior boys’ race could produce the contest of the day if Munster champion, Shane Quinn (De La Salle, Waterford), faces Leinster counterpart, John Travers (Inchicore VS), in a repeat of last Sunday’s national junior championships. The pair were battling it out, head to head, in the Phoenix Park when the Waterford man, son of the Olympic steeplechaser and Irish record holder, Brendan, dropped out.

Ciara Mageean, who has been smashing all of Sonia O’Sullivan’s age group records, will be hot favourite for the girls’ senior title when Eimer Black (Dominican, Belfast), Rachel Campbell (Belfast RA), Máire Aíne Ní Shuilleabhain (Gaelcolaiste Ceatharlach), the Leinster schools champion, should be contesting the minor placings.