BY LEE MAGINNIS
IT was double delight for Ulster athletes at the 2024 Irish University Cross Country Championships, hosted by Queen’s University.
Winner was Belfast’s Roise Roberts, a Law and Spanish student at DCU where she also has a sports scholarship. Roise (above) was runner-up last year and went one better on home turf.
In second place was Hannah Gilliland, a student doctor at Queen’s University and coached by local middle distance legend Paul Lawther who still holds the steeplechase track record at the nearby Mary Peters Track. Despite her gruelling schedule, Hannah has continued to compete this year at a high level.
Supporting her amongst the spectators was her sports therapist Eddie King, also known as the Ballymena Bullet.
This was a superb day for Northern Ireland with both women competing so well against athletes from all over the province and the Republic of Ireland.
After the success, the team at Queen’s have a quick turnaround to be ready for the next event they are hosting, Wednesday night’s 5K races on a loop over and round the river Lagan.
Anna Gardiner, competing for Assumption Grammar, Ballynahinch, took the 2024 senior gold medal at the 123.ie All Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships which were hosted at Tymon Park in Tallaght, Dublin.
Anna, as we have come to expect, was a class apart in the senior girls’ race, completing the 3,500m course in time of 12.59, 18 seconds clear from second placed Lucy Foster (Down HS, Downpatrick). Meabh Eakin (Ballymakenny College) took bronze in 13:27.
Loreto College, with a total of 68 points, won the team title with team members Grace Byrne 6th, Louise Callaghan 24th, Jessica Cunningham 38th, Shauna Callaghan 47th, and Amie Hanly 73rd.
Anna Gardiner
