[dropcap]D[/dropcap]CU Athletics had another strong showing at the 2018 Irish Universities Road Relay Championships in Maynooth.
DCU retained the Overall Universities title for the 15th time, underlining the dominance they have had since Director for Athletics Enda Fitzpatrick took charge in 2005.
The college had five women’s teams competing that finished in the top ten, coming in 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th and 10th, with the winning team setting a new record for the course since it was changed in 2015.
The men’s teams finished in first, second and third with the fourth team finishing just outside the top ten in 11th.
The phenomenal result for DCU in the men’s race is the first time a college has been present on all three steps of the podium in the Road Relay.
Michael Carey, who ran the DCU ‘B’ Team that finished second, was ecstatic with the performance of both teams.
“The championship was a fantastic day for DCU and by winning both titles in the men’s and women’s races, DCU regained the Overall Universities title for the 15th time.”
Carey also recognised the significance of what the men’s team had achieved. “This has never been done before by DCU or any other college and is a massive triumph for the college,” he said.
“The event demonstrated the strength of Athletics within DCU and the calibre of athletes within the college, none of which would be possible without the constant hard work and commitment from the athletes’ coaches, our women’s coach Anne Buckley, and especially that of our Athletics Director Enda Fitzpatrick.”
Fitzpatrick himself was full of praise for both the men’s and women’s teams that competed, noting in particular the men’s result. “A 1, 2, 3 in the Men’s competition highlights the depth of the program and where we are.”
He also gave thanks to those who travelled to support the athletes who were running. “We have a real team ethos, which I think is huge. We had supporters who weren’t running who came down to support the team which is huge.”
It was more than just the athletes who travelled to support those competing that Fitzpatrick had to thank, though. “Thank you to their coaches, our club supporters, loads of parents travelled to the event and they witnessed a historic day for the college.
“I don’t think that will ever be achieved again, where you do a 1, 2, 3. That would be most unlikely that that would ever, ever happen again.”
Fitzpatrick was also optimistic for some of his athletes that have a chance to qualify for the European Cross-Country Championships in Tilburg in The Netherlands.
Athletes compete in the National Cross-Country Championships in the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown on November 25th for a chance to make the team and travel to Tilburg to represent Ireland in Senior, Under 23 and Junior levels.
Many of the men’s team, including Brian Fay, Andrew Coscoran and Conor Duncan will be hoping to make the senior team, according to Fitzpatrick, with others like Jamie Battle and Cormac Dalton also looking to make the trip to Tilburg.
On the women’s team, athletes such as Avril Deegan, Una Britton and Emma O’ Brien will also have a chance to impress at the National Cross-Country Championships in Abbottstown in order to book a ticket to the Netherlands.
Ian Brennan
Image Credit: DCU Athletics.