Anna Gardiner has proven herself to be an exceptional talent by securing victory in the All-Ireland Schools senior cross-country championship for the second time. This prestigious event, held in Tymon Park in Tallaght this weekend, has been the highlight of the school sports calendar for the past 60 years. Showing immense promise, Gardiner will celebrate her 18th birthday later this month.
She triumphed while representing Assumption Grammer School in Ballynahinch, echoing the earlier achievements of fellow student, Ciara Mageean who won the same title in 2009 and 2010. This event, which originally started at Garbally College in Ballinasloe in 1964, attracted almost 1,000 participants, engaging schools from all 32 counties.
Gardiner completed the 3.5km race in an impressive 12:59, outpacing Lucy Foster from Down High School Downpatrick, who came in second, and Meabh Eakin from Ballymakenny College in Drogheda who took the third-place position.
Along with being a part of East Down AC, Gardiner has also claimed Under-18 and Under-20 All-Ireland club titles this season. Her unmatched performance at the European Championships Under-20 race in Brussels last December, where she finished seven, adds to the list of her accomplishments this season.
Alongside her individual achievement, the collective performance of Loreto College saw them claim the team title, led by Grace Byrne. Meanwhile, in the boys’ race, the event saw a tight competition with Cormac Dixon from Holy Family Community School in Rathcoole taking the lead with a time of 19:00. He was closely followed by Noah Harris from ETSS Wicklow and Sean Lawton from Colaiste Pobail Bantry.
St Aidan’s CBS secured the highly sought-after team title in the boys’ race, with St Micheal’s Enniskillen and St Colman’s Fermoy following behind.
Emily Bolton of Mount Sackville Secondary School Chapelizod and Odhran McBrearty of St Columbas Stranorlar emerged as victors of the intermediate titles, with the competition proving tough right from the start of the day. In the minor boys’ race, Darragh Whelan from Castletroy College narrowly outshone Ethan Bramhill of Greystones Community School.
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