Huge Congratulations are in order for the Santa Sabina Junior Cross Country Team who finished 1st in the team event at the All Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships in Galway Racecourse on Saturday 8th March. In doing so, they brought home the Team Gold medals and winning trophy for Santa Sabina. This is the first time ever that a team from Santa Sabina has won the team Gold Medal at the All Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships. It is a terrific achievement for the students involved and was no fluke. The result is a testament to all the hard work that the students have put into athletics training both with their local clubs and in the after school sessions at Santa Sabina.
Conditions on the day of the event were mild and dry with a gentle breeze. The course track was soft but stable and held up well under the swarm of eager athletes that trampled a well trodden path around it. Santa Sabina was represented in two events on the day in question: Minor Girls (Carragh Nig Fhloinn) and Junior Girls (Beth Reamsbottom, Kate Gill, Elise Goodwin, Anna Mulvaney & Carlayn Moran).
In the Minor Race (2K), out of a field of 98 students, Carragh Nig Fhloinn battled hard from the outset and ran a very strong race into 32nd position. Well done to Carragh for such a determined and focused performance on the day.
In the Junior Race (2.5k), out of a field of 94 students, Elise Goodwin placed in 33rd position, Kate Gill placed in 27th position and Beth Reamsbottom flew home in 4th position. Anna Mulvaney and Caralyn Moran also ran very well on the day and finished the race strongly. Team scores are based on the top three finishing athletes on each team. Santa Sabina finished with a score of 64 (4+27+33). For context, the 2nd placed team, St Angela's Waterford, finished with a score of 114. Again this highlights the hard work, effort and dedicated practice of the Santa Sabina students involved to push themselves and help each other to reach this level.
The Junior Race began with all 94 students sprawled out along a wide start line. Positioning is key for many front running athletes on the start line, each jostling and elbowing for the most favourable position. With tension running high and nervous race energy abounding, each athlete leaned over the start line looking to gain any and every advantage they could over their fellow competitors. The loud blast of the start gun echoed around the course and they were off! Anna & Caralyn tucked into middle of the pack and held their place firmly amongst the chaotic opening surge of the athletes breaking ground on the course. Kate & Elise pushed forward into the break away leading third of athletes in the race. Beth, ever quick off the mark at the start, got hemmed in by the fence and had to work hard to break out through the maze of athletes around her. Break out Beth did and she took command of 2nd position in the field for almost the entire remainder of the race. Beth paced herself well throughout the race and seemed a sure thing with 50 metres to go, to come home in 2nd place for Santa Sabina. However, on the final 50 metre descent towards the finish line, there was a super surge from two other athletes on Beth's shoulder. They just nipped past her to leave Beth with a very respectable and hard fought fourth place finish. Attention then turned to the remaining Santa Sabina athletes on the course in the hope that they could bump up the team score as high as possible. Kate Gill, who is only a day over age for the minor grade, ran the race of her life into 27th position. Kate and Elise ran much of the race together and credited each other with pushing and encouraging each other around the course. Elise followed Kate over the line soon after in 33rd position. Such teamwork typifies the great spirit and camaraderie among the Santa Sabina athletes and is yet another reason why they have been so successful as a unit.
As soon as Elise crossed the finish line, shrieks of delight rang out from Coach Eugene O' Neill. Eugene had been following the action closer than anyone else and knew instantly that the Santa Sabina athletes would be crowned Junior Girls All Ireland Schools Cross Country Champions 2025. Anna & Caralyn crossed the finish line shortly after and Eugene was soon joined in the celebrations by excited parents, athletes and teachers.
In more good news, as one of the Top 8 finishing athletes on the day, Beth Reamsbottom has qualified to be part of an Irish Cross Country Schools Team selection. Beth will compete along with the other Top 8 finishers at an International event in Scotland in two weeks time. We wish Beth and the other Irish athletes all the best in this competition.
A special mention must also go out to Ella Vogelaar & Amelie Bradley. Both girls were an integral part of the Junior Teams success throughout the year but were unable to attend the All Ireland event in Galway.
Special thanks must go to Coach Eugene O' Neill for bringing fun and fresh ideas to all the training sessions throughout the year and for taking the athletes through meticulous warm ups on race days.