McGlynn Secures National Cross Country Title as Griggs Finishes Seventh

Ann-Marie McGlynn, based in Strabane, achieved her second Irish title within three weeks by winning the women’s cross country championship in County Fermanagh. This victory followed her Irish title triumph at the Dublin Marathon three weeks prior. In the men’s senior race, Nick Griggs placed seventh. The 44-year-old McGlynn completed the race in 27 minutes and five seconds, finishing 11 seconds ahead of Niamh Allen of Leevale. Danielle Donegan from Tullamore secured the third podium position at the event held on the Castle Irvine Estate in Irvinestown. The Offaly native, known for her consistent performance, displayed no lingering effects from her Irish marathon title win in Dublin on 27 October, comfortably securing the 7,500-metre race well before the finish line. The Letterkenny AC runner has made history as the first athlete to win both Irish marathon and cross country titles in the same year. “This wasn’t in the plan. I went to the Dublin Marathon, I didn’t have to go to the well and I came off it in great nick,” McGlynn informed Athletics Ireland. She added, “I didn’t do anything apart from staying in contact and all of a sudden then I landed at the front. I kept that same momentum, I didn’t do anything stupid or crazy, my strength paid off in the end.” McGlynn’s victory contributed to Letterkenny AC’s second-place finish in the women’s team event, behind Leevale. Both the Donegal club and the Cork outfit are now set to compete at the European Clubs event in Albufeira on 2 February. Tyrone’s 19-year-old Nick Griggs, participating in his inaugural Irish Senior Cross Country Championship after a distinguished junior career, initially appeared to be in a direct contest for the men’s title with Sligo’s Keelan Kilrehill. The pair had established a significant lead over the rest of the field with just over 3,000m remaining in the race. However, Griggs’ performance declined over the final 3,000m. Kilrehill, representing the Mayo-based Moy Valley club, subsequently launched a decisive surge that overcame Griggs’ challenge. Griggs, who recently garnered international attention for setting a new Parkrun world best time in Belfast last weekend, struggled through the remainder of the race. Ennis’ Niall Murphy secured the runner-up position, 28 seconds behind Kilrehill, also claiming the under-23 title. Last year’s champion, Cormac Dalton, finished third, a further three seconds back. Efrem Gidey, who had briefly held the lead, Sean Tobin, and William Fitzgerald completed the top six, just ahead of Griggs, who was the second under-23 athlete to cross the line, 48 seconds behind the winner. Despite entering Sunday’s race with aspirations of winning a first Irish senior title, Griggs’ primary plan was always to compete in the under-23 race in Antalya. His performance in Fermanagh is expected to provide strong motivation for a better showing in Turkey. The Tyrone athlete successfully led Candour Track Club to the team title, with teammates Conall McClean, Callum Morgan, and Luke Kelly finishing 11th, 16th, and 27th, respectively. This placed them 13 points ahead of North Belfast, who finished as runners-up for the second consecutive year. North Belfast’s highest-placed finisher was Matthew Lavery in ninth, followed by Finn McNally in 12th, Andrew Milligan in 13th, and Conan McCaughey in 40th. Lavery’s strong finish is anticipated to secure him an under-23 spot in Turkey, alongside Griggs. Kilrehill expressed immense joy at winning a title he had long desired. “This is the one title I couldn’t finish athletics without, it’s the one I’ve dreamt of. To win it like that is unreal,” stated the Sligo man, who had been recognized as the most impressive domestic cross country performer leading up to Sunday’s event. Candour athlete Roise Roberts also earned a trip to Antalya, finishing 12th in the senior women’s race, making her the third under-23 athlete across the line, behind Emma McEvoy of Dundrum South Dublin and Amy Greene of Finn Valley. Northern Ireland-based athletes delivered several other notable performances. Lucy Foster of Willowfield achieved a 20-second victory over Annabel Morrison of Enniskillen Running Club in the women’s under-20 race, with Avril Millerick of Youghal taking third. Frank McGrath of Lagan Valley placed second in the men’s under-20 race, six seconds behind Jonas Stafford of UCD. Harry McKenzie of Enniskillen Running Club finished third at the boys under-18 level, while Lagan Valley’s Eva Bartlett and Willowfield’s Emer McKee secured first and third, respectively, in the girls under-18 event.