Cross-country gold for Castlegar AC and Galway City Harriers
Martin McEvilly of GCH claims gold in Masters V75 , while clubmate Nora Tierney wins silver Ladies V35
Galway clubs claimed two national titles at the National Cross Country Relays, held alongside the Autumn Open Cross Country International at the National Sports Campus at Abbottstown in Dublin last Sunday.
Galway City Harriers won the U-13 Girls’ 4x500m relay, while Castlegar AC took gold in the U-11 Girls’ relay.
In the first race of the day, Castlegar won by two seconds over last year’s national champions Mullingar, in an exciting finale. Amelia Farragher ran a strong first leg to keep the club in medal position after a fast start. Zara Casserly closed the gap to the leader with a strong second-leg run; Cassie Healy cut Mullingar Harriers’ lead to just five metres in the third leg; and on the final leg, Hana Gheziel Faraj powered through to clinch the first-ever cross-country relay gold for the club. The management team was Kathryn Casserly, Philip Madden, Marian Madden, Maria Corcoran, Olga Concar Murphy, Jonnie Carr, and Stephen Casserly.
It wasn’t long until the second Galway gold of the day, as the Galway City Harriers U'13 Girls' joined them in becoming national champions.
The quartet were led off by Elliana Magnetti, who reached the first changeover of the race in a share of the lead. Katie McGlynn strengthened their position with a strong run up the steeper of the two big hills, opening clear daylight between the top two and the rest before handing over to her sister, Matilda McGlynn, who held on well as the top three stretched their advantage.
Maneli Fazeli raced hard on the anchor leg, emerging from the final bend in the lead and extended it on the uphill finish to cross the line in first and win team gold by a four-second winning margin. Squad members Thea Lynch and Ailbhe Graham and lead coach Anita McGlynn and the finishing quartet were understandably thrilled with a super all-round performance.
The GCH U-11 Boys’ team of Donagh Chapple, Rian McDermott, Adam Browne and James Langan just missed a medal when finishing in fourth. Donagh kept the team in touch with the leading three on the first leg; Rian and Adam held that position; and James closed on third but came up just short.
The GCH U'11 Girls of Moya Coakley, Millie Conboy, Anna Kate Fitzmaurice, and Sadhbh Bohan finished 14th at their first national cross-country event.
Castlegar travelled in great numbers with four teams, and in the U-13 Boys’ event, Tiernan Dilleen, Matthew Casserly - in his first national cross-country relay - Charlie Gibbons, and Sam McNally brought the team home 15th overall.
The club’s U-14 Mixed relay team finished 11th. Connacht sprint champion Ciara Murphy ran the first leg, Felix Stapleton gained at least six places in the second leg; Fia Ní Chonail ran strongly throughout; and Ciaran Casey made up significant ground on the final leg.
Castlegar’s U-15 Boys ran a longer 4x1km course and finished seventh. William Duggan ran the first leg, Calum Deeth made up significant ground on the second; with third-leg runner Cillian O’Neill handing over in seventh place to Paddy Leonard, who held that position to the finish.
Autumn Open Cross-Country
The Autumn Open Cross Country, incorporating the Masters Cross Country trials, was held alongside the juvenile relays, with Ireland’s top masters’ athletes competing for places on the team for the Home Internationals in November.
Martin McEvilly of GCH won the Masters V75 category, and clubmate Nora Tierney was second in the Ladies V35 section. Both will qualify for the Home International in Dublin on November 14.
Dublin Marathon
The 2026 National Marathon Championships will be held in conjunction with the Dublin Marathon this Sunday, October 25, with national honours on the line over 26.2 miles.
Hundreds of Galway club athletes will travel to the capital for what is always a great day out with north of 20,000 expected to race. Galway athletes do have national medal opportunities, notably the Galway City Harriers women's team which includes the likes of former National team medal winner Siobhan Egan, Liz Maher, and Julie Bradshaw.
Fixtures
The second day of Connacht Cross-Country championships eaturing the Juvenile Even Ages Championships and Senior League, will be held this Sunday, October 25, at Roscommon Racecourse (F42 V052), hosted by Roscommon County Board. Races begin with the U-10 Girls' at 11am.