Leevale’s Ó Lionáird continuing to make strides stateside
Emil Heineking (23:40.1) and Ryan Collins (23:40.5) from Virginia were first and second with the Florida State pair, Matthew Leeder (23:42.2) and Ó Lionáird (23:43.6) filling the third and fourth places.
Florida State won the team contest for the first time in their history and they will go to the Regional Championships the weekend after next oozing confidence.
“We have been second and third a whole bunch over the years,” men’s coach Bob Braman said. “We have been in the hunt most of the last 10 years and it is just so exciting for these guys that we were able to break through this year.”
Since going to the US on an athletics scholarship Ó Lionaird has been plagued with injury and his return to form will be welcomed by the Irish under-23 coach, Bro. John Dooley, who will have all six from last year available for next month’s European cross-country championships in Albufeira.
Holly Knight, who competes for Finn Valley also showed a timely return to form when she finished second in the SEC Cross-Country Championships in Columbia winning the praise of former Irish Olympian and multi-record holder, Mark Carroll, who is head coach at Auburn.
However, hopes of taking a medal in the women’s race at next month’s European cross-country championships suffered a killer blow this week with news that Mary Cullen has suffered a broken collarbone and will be out of action for a number of weeks. The Sligo woman, runaway winner of last year’s national inter-counties championships, finished a close-up fourth in the Europeans two years ago.
Several Irish athletes figured at Conference meets over the weekend. In the Southland Conference McNeese runners David Rooney (Raheny Shamrocks AC), a student at McNeese State, and Joshua Sawe were clear of the field when they were directed off course with half a mile remaining. By the time they realised what happened they found themselves in arrears and playing catch-up. The effort proved too much and they finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Cork athlete, Craig Murphy (Togher AC) finished fourth as Iona College recorded their 20th successive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship win. The Gaels had seven in the top 10 and 13 in the top 20 at Madison.
And Craig Murphy, whose grandfather, the legendary Jas Murphy is a former Kerry All-Ireland footballer, was one of seven student athletes who were recognised for their performance in the classroom by making it on the MAAC All-Academic Team.
With former European junior 5,000m bronze medallist, David McCarthy (West Waterford) who is back at Providence College, Brendan O’Neill and John Coghlan impressing in the Dublin senior championships last weekend, Ireland should have a strong under-23 team at the European championships next month.
