Bronze for Ireland's Senior Women's Team at European Cross Country Championships

Ireland's senior women's team won bronze at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships at La Mandria Park in Italy yesterday afternoon (Dec 11^th), wiping out all memory of last year's painful fourth-place finish at the championships hosted in Fingal-Dublin.

Twin sisters Eilish and Roisin Flanagan crossed side-by-side in 11^th and 12^th place, and Mary Mulhare (27^th) rounded out the scoring for the bronze medal-winning-team, closely supported by Ann Marie McGlynn (31^st), Aoibhe Richardson (46^th), and Michelle Finn (55^th). The result continues an outstandingly consistent run from the senior women’s team who have medalled for the 5^th time in 11 years at these championships.

There were more outstanding performances away from the medals today too, with Jane Buckley securing a brilliant 5th place finish in the women’s U20 race. Sarah Healy was right in contention for a medal in the U23 race but unfortunately had to withdraw during the final lap with injury.

Today’s performances continue a remarkably consistent medal-winning-run for Irish athletes at European Cross Country Championships. Ireland has won 12 medals over the last 3 editions of these championships; a stat made all the more impressive when set against the 13 medals won in the previous 25 editions.

SUMMARY RESULTS

U20 Women Race

Individual Medals

1 550 FORERO Maria Spain 13:04

2 724 ØSTGÅRD Ingeborg Norway 13:07

3 571 MONONEN Ilona Finland 13:08

Team Medals:

1. Spain 21
2. Turkey 25
3. Germany 33

Irish finishing positions (Team 8^th):

• Buckley 5^th
• Hawkins 35^th
• Thompson 52^nd
• Gardiner 59^th
• Roberts 66^th
• Kehoe 72nd

Mixed Relay (4 x 1500m) - 09:30am Irish Time

Medals

1 Italy 17:23

2 Spain 17:24

3 France 17.31

Irish Team Finishing Position:

9^th in 17.56

U23 Women Race (6000m)

Individual Medals:

1 ITA BATTOCLETTI Nadia 19:55

2 GBR KEITH Megan 20:08

3 GBR MILLARD Alexandra 20:27

Team Medals:

1 Great Britain & Northern Ireland 10

2 Italy 31

3 France 38

Irish Finishing Positions (Team 7^th):

• Donegan 28^th
• O’Mahony 35^th
• Mooney 39^th
• McCann 54^th
• Healy DNF
• O’Cuill DNF

Senior Women Race

Individual Medals:

1 NOR GRØVDAL Karoline Bjerkeli 26:25

2 GER KLOSTERHALFEN Konstanze 26:29

3 GER REH Alina 27:19

Team Medals:

1 Germany 9

2 Great Britain & Northern Ireland 30

3 Ireland 50

Irish Finishing Positions (Team 3^rd):

• E Flanagan 11^th
• R Flanagan 12^th
• Mulhare 27^th
• McGlynn 31^st
• Richardson 46^th
• Finn 55^th

 Full Results: HERE