Olympians crowned Donegal Cross Country Champions

Olympian YAC recently contested the Juvenile Donegal Cross Country Championships held over a few weekends in Mullaghderg, Rosses and Carndonagh.

With some tricky terrain and weather conditions to contest with, all our members competed with great heart and showed true muddy grit and determination throughout. 

Mouchine Fathoun was certainly not just outstanding in his field, he was a cut above the rest, as he led from gun to tape to claim the county title and Gold medal in the U16 boys 3000m with a very controlled and strong run. This augers very well for this talented young athlete in the up coming Ulster and Northern Ireland Cross Country Championships. 

In the U17/19 3000m combined girls race Molly Heaney had a fantastic 4th finish overall and gained a brilliant Bronze medal in the U17 category. 

Ismael Fathoun toed the line in the U17/19 boys 4000m and battled hard in a top quality field to finish 5th in his age group. 

Mouchine Fathoun became u16 Donegal Champion.

In the U10 boys 1000m Ronan Carty had a good gutsy run finishing 18th overall. Club team mate Jack Dowds also showed great determination in the U12 boys 1500m race finishing 5th putting himself in contention for a possible selection on the Donegal team for the upcoming Ulster & NI Championships. 

Cassie Lynch had a great run in the U15 girls 3000m to finish a very creditable 10th in a very large field of athletes. Eva Hutchinson showed fantastic cross country courage and fighting spirit in the U12 girls 1500m and gained herself some valuable experience for her first race at club level. Our U11 girls duo of Orla Doherty and Fiadh Dowd showed great Olympian heart over the 1200m distance as did our U11 boys duo of Conal Breen and Shea Dowd. 

Our youngest Olympian, Aoibheann Strain, finished a superb 9th place in her first cross country race in the U9 Girls 800m (non Championship race).

Donegal Cross Country Relay Champions

Congratulations and very well done to our two relay teams who contested the Donegal County Cross Country Relay Championships held at Finn Valley, Stranorlar. 

Shea Dowd and Conal Breen all smiles after their first Cross Country race in the u11 Boys.

Our U15 Girls, competing in the 4x1000m had a truly fantastic run coming away as county Champions and the Gold medal. The team members Bríana Doherty, Cassie Lynch, Kellie Carty & Róisín Faul all put in a great team effort and had excellent runs to come out as top team. 

Our U11 Boys took part in the 4x500m distance. The quartet of Shea Dowd, Conal Breen, Ronan Carty and Suryaansh Gupta showed great Olympian heart and fighting spirit finished a creditable 5th place team overall. 

Well done to all and as always a big thank you to all parents/guardians and our volunteer coaches for travelling and supporting our athletes over the few weekends.

Molly Heaney in action in the u17 Girls 3000m.

TRAINING

We are insured to cater for any and all abilities from 7 years of age right up to senior and master’s level who wish to train, keep fit, have fun, and/or compete at a local to national/ international standard.

Training continues on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm at Templemore Sports Complex Track. For further details please message Michelle/ Karen O’Donnell on Facebook on Olympian AC.

Aoibheann Strain top ten medal winner in the u9 Girls Donegal Cross Country Championships with her proud parents.