Fiona Everard won the National Senior Cross Country title in Gowran Sunday afternoon, winning the 9k race in 36:32, a stunning 37 seconds ahead of runner-up Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise AC).
🗣️ “I never thought I’d win it…it’s slowly sinking in, I’m so shocked.”
Fiona Everard (Bandon AC) speaks after winning the @Ask123ie National Senior Cross Country title in Gowran 🤩🎤
It’s fair to say she’s still processing it 🙌🏻#IrishAthletics pic.twitter.com/xuyaBo7lIj— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) November 19, 2023
"I'm so shocked right now," said Everard after the race.
"Going in, the really ambitious goal was to get on the plane and make Euro Cross, so top-three was the best case scenario."
25-year-old Everard had a substantial lead by the end of the course but said she "couldn't believe [she] was leading it... I was just hoping I'd hang on."
She credited her ability to keep going under difficult conditions to training at home in Bandon with club Bandon AC.
"I'll thank running around Bandon for that, I'm used to the mud and hills. I was telling myself I should like the mud, but there were parts that were a big struggle to get through."
Danielle Donegan (Tullamore Harriers AC) took third overall and first in the women's U23 category.
Senior Women’s Results at the https://t.co/8kNu8qkSSg National Senior, Junior and Juvenile Even Age Cross Country Championships
🥇Fiona Everard (Bandon AC)
🥈Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise A.C.)
🥉Danielle Donegan (Tullamore Harriers A.C.)
Full Results ➡️ https://t.co/UhfoL8tyc7 pic.twitter.com/hgs44jmBW4— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) November 19, 2023
The U18 and U20 titles were won by 17-year old Anna Gardiner (East Down AC), who declared herself "absolutely over the moon."
"I'm so so happy with that run."
The European Cross Country Championships take place in Brussels starting on Dec. 10. An Irish team is expected to be announced in the coming days.
