Sean McGinley produced a fantastic performance to win the Junior Men’s 6000m race at the Autumn Open on the National Sports Campus in Abbottstown recently.
McGinley who is a first year PE and Biology student in DCU was representing his home club of Finn Valley AC, Co. Donegal.
The talented young athlete put himself in a good position from early on and was aided by having the opportunity to run alongside the senior athletes who were running 7500m.
From the off he led the junior race and when Daragh McElhinney (UCD AC), who would go onto win the senior race, decided to push the pace on, McGinley hung on well.
He was rewarded for his excellent effort with a spot on top of the podium.
Sean McGinley reacts to impressive victory
McGinley gave his reaction after the race to Athletics Ireland:
Giving chase in the Junior race was second year PE and Maths student Cathal O’Reilly in the distinct yellow and black colours of Kilkenny City Harriers. O’Reilly was back racing on the National Cross Country Course for the first time since racing for Ireland at the European Championships last December.
The 19-year-old put in a strong performance to finish third.
Eoin Richards, first year MInT student, running for St. Coca’s AC, Kildare, was 13th.
Amy Greene racing for North Belfast Harriers had a solid run to finish inside the top ten in the Junior Women’s 4000m. The first year Primary Teaching student crossed the line in ninth position.
Michael Murphy was the sole DCU athlete in action in the Senior Men’s 7500m. Murphy, who is Men’s Captain for the university’s club this year, ran well to finish 25th. Having gone into the race hoping to be amongst the top ten U23 athletes, Murphy was delighted to finish eighth.
The Tullamore Harriers athlete who is in his final year of studying Health and Society admitted to going out harder than expected but finished strongly in the final lap.
Recent DCU Alumni Keelan Kilrehill and Jamie Battle were both amongst the prize winners in the senior race. Kilrehill (Moy Valley AC) finished second, with Battle (Mullingar Harriers AC) coming home in fifth.
The Autumn Open served as a great test for DCU’s athletes who will now look ahead to the Intervarsity Road Relays in Maynooth and National Junior and Senior Cross Country Championships in Rosapenna, Co. Donegal, with both being held in November.
Rory Cassidy
Image Credit: Sportsfile