Bolton storms to National title in CC Championships
BY THE midway point of the National Under 12 Girls Juvenile Cross Country Championships at Abbotstown on Sunday, there was no doubting who would win.
The soft ground and steady climbs proved no obstacle to Emily Bolton as she powered her way to victory, doubling a 40-metres lead at the half-way stage to finish well clear of runner-up Isa McCarron of Lagan Valley AC and Sholah Lawrence of Ace AC (Co. Louth) in third.
Thomas Bolton
What’s more, Bolton led the Dublin County team to a third place finish behind Clare and Cork.
Emily’s brother Thomas had a more intense battle in the Under 14 Boys race over three kilometres.
With 600 metres to go, a group of five athletes led the field before Sean Cronin of Clonliffe Harriers kicked on for victory with Conor Murphy of St Coca’s AC giving chase.
In the gradual incline to the finish line Bolton withheld the challenge of Shane Buckley of DSD AC and Mathys Bocqet of Craughwell AC to claim the bronze medal and emerge the second scorer on the Dublin County team that took silver behind Tipperary and ahead of Mayo.
Donore Harriers were well represented in the Under 14 Girls race, also over three kilometres with the team led home by Lorraine O’Connor in 22nd and Eva Crowe in 25th.
Laura Nunan in 64th and Honor Lynch in 82nd completed the squad as Donore finished seventh.
In the Under 16 Boys race, an improv-ing James Bolton finished 31st and the fifth scorer on the Dublin team that won gold just six points ahead of County Antrim.
An untimely stitch, forced 17-year-old Moyle Park College student, Gavin Curtin to settle for 79th in the Under 18 Boys race. He will now focus on the Under 19s Champion-ship on December 15.
In the National Senior Women’s CC Champion-ship, Barbara Cleary (32.06) put in another tenacious effort to place 20th with Maura Kearns taking 59th.
In the 10km Senior Men’s contest, there were strong performances from Daragh Fitzgibbon and Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan who crossed the line in 36th and 37th respectively.
Elsewhere, Alasdair Brown won the 10km MORUN in the Phoenix Park on Saturday.
TAGS Sport
