Rosses AC Captures Medals at Urgent Donegal Cross Country Championships

UPDATE: Rosses AC athletes delivered an outstanding performance at the Donegal Cross Country Championships held on October 8, 2023, with the club securing multiple medals in both juvenile and adult categories. The championships took place at Mullaghderg, providing a perfect setting for thrilling races.

The women’s team clinched bronze medals while the men’s team achieved silver, showcasing impressive competitive spirit and skill. In the women’s race, Nicole O’Donnell shone brightly, finishing an impressive 4th, closely followed by Donna Boyle Gillespie in 9th place. Sarah Doherty and Angela Trimble rounded out the team’s scoring with finishes of 11th and 14th respectively, securing the team’s bronze position.

On the men’s side, David McKelvey led the charge with a stellar 4th place finish, narrowly missing gold. His teammates Mark Ward and Ryan Wilson followed closely, finishing 6th and 7th respectively, while Gavin Ward ensured a strong team performance by finishing in the top ten.

The juvenile races kicked off with the U9 girls, where Mary Kate McDonald excelled, securing a silver medal in her category. The U11 girls team also impressed, claiming silver medals with Katie Sharkey finishing 4th and Aine Doherty achieving 6th despite being out of her age group. The U11 boys saw a strong showing as well, with James McDonald finishing 5th and contributing to a solid team effort.

In the U15 boys category, Evan Ward dominated the competition, becoming the U15 County Champion with a controlled and strategic race. Joe Santiago Gallagher finished 10th in the U17 boys race, adding to the club’s success.

The excitement continues as Rosses AC looks forward to the Donegal Even Age Championships in Carndonagh on October 12, 2023, where a large squad is anticipated to compete.

In addition to the Cross Country events, Rosses AC athletes also participated in the Donegal East 13k, Half, and 3/4 Marathon. Eilise Wallace finished an impressive 4th in the ladies’ 13k, while Claire Reid took victory in the Half Marathon with a time of 1:31:23. Patrick Trimble was the first Rosses man to cross the finish line in 1:22:10.

With such strong performances across various events, the club is set to continue its momentum and engage more athletes in the upcoming competitions. Stay tuned for more updates as Rosses AC aims for further success!