The early morning mist cleared and the course in Belvedere was perfect on Sunday 11th October for round 2 of the Westmeath Cross Country Championships, which was for boys and girls under 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 years of age, and for men and women novice, senior and master. As in round 1 the previous week the numbers of underage athletes that took part was well up on previous years. Another plus was the great number of senior athletes taking part, boosted by a good group from Athlone taking part in the Championships for the first time.

Each underage race was keenly contested with everyone hoping to run well and impress Club officials and make sure of selection on Mullingar and Westmeath teams in the Leinster Championships. The last race of the day was a combined race for boys u/17 and u/19, girls u/19 and men and women novice, senior and master – with each group running over the same course but with different numbers of laps, so it was a great event for spectators. There were 48 men and women in the race, running along with the older juveniles, which made for some great cross-generational battles, in particular the one between Jake Byrne running 6,000m u/19 and Wayne Reid running 6,000m novice men, which came down to a very close finish with Jake just having the edge on the day. Wayne is with the Athlone Triathlon Club and new to cross country running, though you wouldn’t think it to see him run and it took all Jake’s experience as an International athlete to outrun him in the end.

Thanks to all who helped on the day recording the results and stewarding on the course and to the parents who came and supported the competitors, but in particular to all the athletes who competed with such great enthusiasm.

The results of Round 2 were: