Hazelwood Silver Success at North Munster Schools Cross-Country
On January 30th, Hazelwood College’s athletics team travelled to Pallaskenry for the North Munster Schools Cross-Country Championship. The treacherous weather conditions were evident as we drove to the location, and we knew it would be a tough day for all. Despite the inclement weather our first triumph was Eimear Lenihan in the Junior Girls Competition, who ran phenomenally, keeping a steady pace at the front for the duration of the race. Thanks to her persistence, she eventually secured third place. This was a fantastic result.
This certainly wasn’t Hazelwood’s only success on the day as our senior boys secured a silver team medal. They were Peter Mulcahy, who achieved 6th position, Cillian Fahy, who achieved 7th position, Sean Flanagan, who achieved 9th position and Seamus Flanagan who achieved 20th position. They ran their hearts out, showing tremendous pace and endurance, constantly keeping together as a group, and after winning a silver team medal, they secured and qualification the National Schools Cross-Country Championship to show for their hard work.
The senior girls also did Hazelwood proud with three coming in the first 15, a spectacular result which saw Hazelwood win a second silver team medal and also saw the senior girls’ team qualify for the National Schools Cross-Country Championships. This senior team consisted of Denise Forde, who took 7th position, Emer Cunningham, who achieved 9th position, and Selena Kiely, who attained 11th position.
The intermediate girls, who also qualified as a group for the Munster’s Cross-Country Championship, put on a spectacular performance, never giving up until the end. This team was Mairead Lordon (13th qualifying as an individual), Tara Fitzgibbon (17th), Laoise Bennis (18th) and Ellanna Mulcahy (20th), all just outside the first 15, who qualified for the National Cross-Country Championships.
A number of other Hazelwood students ran on the day, but unfortunately despite their best efforts were not successful, most finishing the race just a few places short of qualification. Mr Grant stated on the day that he was “extremely happy with the outcome of the day and very proud of every student that ran”.
The students that qualified will now move on to the finals in Cork CIT, on Thursday the 13th of February 2013, and we are confident that they will once again do the school proud.
Picture 1: Hazelwood College’s Senior Boys’ Silver Team Medal winners, from left to right Seamus Flanagan, Sean Flanagan, Cillian Fahy and Peter Mulcahy.
Picture 2: Making their debut at the North Munster Schools Cross Country Championship were Hazelwood College first year students, left to right, William Boyce, Cormac O’Sullivan, Corey Knipe and Jack R. McCarthy.
Picture 3: Hazelwood College student and third place Junior Girl in the North Munster Schools’ Cross-Country Championships Eimear Lenihan with her coach Mr Kevin Grant.
Picture 4: Hazelwood athletes Kevin O’Leary (left) and Sean Madigan (right) at the North Munster Schools’ Cross Country Championship
Picture 5: Some of Hazelwood College’s female athletes at the North Munster Schools’ Cross-Country Championships, including the members of the Senior Girls’ Silver Team Medal winning team. Pictured are left to right: Rachel O’Reagan, Emer Cunningham, Ellanna Mulcahy, Tara Fitzgibbon, Laoise Bennis, Mairead Lordan, Allison Healy, Selena Kiely and Denise Forde.