Coláiste Mhuire rise to the challenge at World Schools Cross Country

Coláiste Mhuire added another chapter to the school's illustrious athletic history last week when ten athletes and two team managers travelled to Slovakia for the World Schools Cross-Country Championships. The event took place at the sports complex in Strbské Pleso high in the Tatra mountains from April 22 to 27.

After a long day on Friday the 22nd, which included flights to Krakow, Poland and a three hour bus ride through the night to Slovakia the Mullingar athletes arrived tired but still very motivated.

After a day of rest and familiarising themselves with the course around the frozen lake that is the centre piece of a very famous Spa town the lads hit their beds early to prepare for their first race on the Sunday.

With a tight start and a very fast early pace being set by the Moroccan, English and Turkish squads the squad made the smart decision to sit back in the pack. On the second lap the fog that had covered the lake and the mountains surrounding the course lifted and you could make out the Coláiste Mhuire lads picking their way through the field. In the final mile they were all passing runners that had started too hard and Diarmuid Fagan was first home in 18th with Ross Killalea not far behind in 23rd. The team scoring was completed with Conor Sherwin and John Ryan finishing 34th and 37th respectively. The other six that raced in Slovakia all acquitted themselves well and showed no fear against the other international squads from around the globe. Pablo Lozano, Tadgh Sheridan, Daire Hannan, Conor Liston, Jamie Campbell and Tom Daly really committed and at the finish line you could see how hard they had raced.

The combined efforts of the lads saw them finishing 6th just behind France and Morocco who they had been closing on all through the second lap.

The team are very grateful to our sponsors and the school management for all their support in recent weeks as we prepared for the championships. The sponsors Decotek Automotive, Moyvore Whiskey Vault, Mullingar Rotary, Mullingar Harriers

Mergon, TEG and O’Briens Motor Group were all very generous and the lads really appreciate their support.