Kenneally ends long wait in some style

ATHLETICS:IF THE victory salute didn't illustrate what winning the National Cross Country meant to Mark Kenneally, the smile across his face did. Given Kenneally had won seven silver medals between cross country and track, finally claiming a first national gold at age 28 was always going to taste wonderfully sweet.

He also won it in the style befitting the best distance runner in the country right now: leading from gun-to-tape, and making light work of the old Magazine Fort circuit of the Phoenix Park.

He had 14 seconds to spare over Gary Thornton – with Gary Murray in third – and helped his club, Clonliffe Harriers, to a seventh consecutive team title.

“I felt good alright, but in the last few laps you always have a little doubt in your head and just want to get to the finish,” said Kenneally. “The big goal now is the 10,000 metres at the European Championships in July.”

There were some interesting battles going on for the other leading finishers, with Brendan O’Neill closing strongly to get up for fourth, while 1,500 metre specialist and Beijing Olympian Thomas Chamney claimed an impressive fifth place.

Linda Byrne of Dundrum South Dublin was an equalling convincing winner of her first senior title, the 23-year-old coming home over a minute clear of Siobhán O’Doherty of Borrisokane.

“I’d made up my mind to go from the start,” said Byrne, who lost her grant aid this year, having left the under-23 ranks. “I’m in great shape, the best ever, and hopefully I can make a real impact at senior level.”

Byrne led her club to the team title, while Annette Kealy – the national marathon champion – once again defied her age to get into the medals, finishing third.

Host club Donore Harriers claimed the junior men’s title with 18-year-old John Travers – he became the first Donore winner of the junior men’s race since Donal O’Sullivan in 1993.

Travers, from Drimnagh, clawed back Shane Quinn on the last lap to win by 25 seconds from Liam Tremble – as Quinn succumbed to exhaustion and failed to finish.

Donore also claimed silver medals in the team race, with the title going to Raheny Shamrock.

Age Matters

WHEN IS A good junior too good for her own good? When she’s still only 14, evidently, as Siofra Clerigh Buttner discovered after winning the junior title in the Phoenix Park yesterday.

Her winning margin of 45 seconds clearly suggests an exceptional talent, but she was later disqualified, as Athletics Ireland rules state all junior athletes must be 16 or older in the year of the championships.

Clerigh Buttner was entered late in the day by her club, Dundrum South Dublin, who are ultimately responsible for their athletes being within proper age bracket – but given she doesn’t turn 15 until July, Athletics Ireland had no option but to disqualify Clerigh Buttner.

The title was awarded to Mary Mulhare of North Laois.

– Ian O’Riordan