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Newry AC's U17 boys squad have brought home bronze medals from the Irish National XC Championships at Sport Ireland Campus, finishing third behind Dublin clubs Donore Harrier and Raheny Shamrocks in what proved to be a brutally tough day of racing.
The championships took place on the purpose-built cross country course at Sport Ireland Campus, the same venue that hosted the European Championships a few years back. After a prolonged period of rain, conditions underfoot were horrendous, providing a proper XC race for proper athletes across a course that tests everyone from club runners right through to European elite competitors.
The six-strong Newry squad is made up predominantly of St Colman's College students, with five of the six attending the school. Luc Le Blanc, Aaron Agnew, Ronan Scullion, Caolan Ryan and Oisin Sands were joined by their Abbey CBS teammate Sean Smyth to secure the Irish podium spot in the extremely competitive U17 category.
The team had been edged into second place at the recent Ulster Championships in November, partly due to an incomplete squad after illness impacted the lineup. However, the national bronze medal will no doubt make up for that runner-up spot.
The success continues a long tradition of Irish National Championship medals being won by Newry AC athletes, ensuring the club remains the premier athletics outfit locally. That success is built on foundations put in place by junior athlete coach Chloe O'Hare, with senior coach Kookie O'Hagan continuing to deliver Irish national podiums for the seniors, most recently this year with Gary Crummy securing Senior Irish National 10 Mile Championship silver. Paul LeBlanc is now working with this talented group of young athletes who are only continuing to develop and get stronger.
The tradition and drive for cross country running within St Colman's College was curated by the late Rory Friel, with that passion now transferring across to club athletics with Newry AC. Championship medals are the only currency that hold any true value in successful running, and Luc, Aaron, Ronan, Caolan, Oisin and Sean are now within the select few to hold such honours.
