Jack Fenlon from St Abban’s became the latest winner of the Laois senior men’s cross country title when he claimed gold this morning in Barrowhouse.
The 18-year-old from Belgrove, near Ballybrittas, runs in the St Abban’s colours and has already represented Ireland at underage level.
In what was his first time to run in the senior men’s race in Laois, he held off a strong field to cross the line first and in the process also led St Abban’s to the team gold, a team that also contained his father John, who finished in 11th place.
Fenlon’s St Abban’s team-mate Cian Kelly was second while Jack McMahon from Ballyroan-Abbeyleix took bronze.
Ballyroan-Abbeyleix took the team silver while St Michael’s from Portarlington were third, ahead of Oughaval who were the other club with sufficient runners to make up a team.
Incidentally Jack and John Fenlon were one of three father-and-son duos in action as Cian and Martin McDonald ran for Ballyroan-Abbeyleix and Paddy McLoughlin and two of his sons, Daniel and Richard, lined out for Oughaval.
This year’s men’s race was the 60th anniversary of the event and the previous winners were commemorated after the morning’s running in the nearby Shanganamore primary school.
Elsewhere, Mary Mulhare won the Laois women’s senior title once again, a week after representing Ireland at the European Cross Country championships.
She was one of just two Portlaoise AC runners on the day, meaning the team title was won by St Abban’s who were led home by Cheryl Nolan, who was second to Mulhare.
The only other club with sufficient senior women finishing the race were Oughaval who had Paula Guinan leading the charge with an eighth place finish.
Men’s Individual
- Jack Fenlon (St Abban’s)
- Cian Kelly (St Abban’s)
- Jack McMahon (Ballyroan-Abbeyleix)
- Brian Kelly (St Abban’s)
- Conall Whelan (Ballyroan-Abbeyleix)
- Cian McDonald (Ballyroan-Abbeyleix)
- David McEvoy (St Abban’s)
- Colin Coyne (St Abban’s)
- Eoghan Whelan (Ballyroan-Abbeyleix)
- Derek Bracken (St Michael’s)
Men’s Team
1st – St Abban’s, 33 pts – Jack Fenlon (1st), Cian Kelly (2nd), Brian Kelly (4th), David McEvoy (7th), Colin Coyne (8th), John Fenlon (11th)
2nd – Ballyroan-Abbeyleix, 52 pts – Jack McMahon (3rd), Conall Whelan (5th), Cian McDonald (6th), Eoghan Whelan (9th), Ronan O’Reilly (13th), Tom Dunne (16th)
3rd – St Michael’s, 123 pts – Derek Bracken (10th), Mark Milligan (14th), Alex O’Connor (21st), Owen Connolly (22nd), Dave Murphy (25th), Aidan McGree (31st)
Women’s Individual
- Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise)
- Cheryl Nolan (St Abban’s)
- Caitlin McDonald (St Abban’s)
- Kate Connolly (St Michael’s)
- Niamh Staunton (St Abban’s)
- Michelle Keenan (Ballyroan-Abbeyleix)
- Siobhan Burke (St Abban’s)
- Paula Guinan (Oughaval)
- Claire Phelan (St Abban’s)
- Aisling Stapleton (St Michael’s)
Women’s Team
1st – St Abban’s, 17 pts – Cheryl Nolan (2nd), Caitlin McDonald (3rd), Niamh Staunton (5th) Siobhan Burke (7th)
2nd – Oughaval, 46 pts – Paula Guinan (8th), Martina Dunne (11th), Catherine Stapleton (13th), Deirdre Miller (14th)
SEE ALSO – Laois JFC Team of the Year: Annanough lead the way with eight representatives as St Joseph’s, The Harps, The Rock and Spink also represented
