Kerry runners win 18 medals at Munster juvenile, uneven age and senior cross-country championships

The top juvenile runners on the Kerry contingent were aiming for a top 12 spot that not only secured a Munster medal but also a coveted place at this year's National Championships, which will be run at the same venue in December. Four Kerry athletes enjoyed a top three podium finish.

The Killarney Valley duo of Lauren O'Sullivan and Dylan O'Connor opened the medal count for the Kingdom at the start of the day, finishing 7th and 9th respectively on the undulating but dry course overlooking the seaside town. That was quickly followed by another of the talented Collins family, Seoda, running for Tralee Harriers in the girls U-11 win what was the biggest field of the day comprising of 152 runners, taking a superb 12th place.

In the boys U-11s, and another large field of 122, two Kerry athletes made the top 12 in the boys U-11 with Jack Sheehy (St Brendan's) taking 8th and Christopher Wynton (Iveragh) 12th.

In the boy's races, the Kerry performances of the day came from the U-15 duo Ryan Vickers (Farranfore Maine Valley) and Conor Duffin (Killarney Valley) who looked superb cruising around the hilly course to finish 2nd and 3rd in a blistering fast-paced race that was won by one of the country's top juvenile athletes, Darragh Whelan from Limerick AC.

Running up an age, Ryan's brother Isaac placed 12th in the boys U-17, while Cathal O'Connor, also of Farranfore Maine Valley, was making his Munster Cross-country debut in the boys U-13 and gave absolutely everything to secure a National Championship spot with an 11th place finish.

In the girls races, Hannah Redican (Tralee Harriers) produced a stand-out performance, tracking the leaders from the start but lost her 3rd place position on the final hill only to snatch it back again with a final last dramatic surge to the line. Her talented club-mate Maeve Wallace (Tralee Harriers) moved steadily through the field to finish 8th, super running by the Tralee pair.

In the older age categories, Meabh O'Connor (An Riocht) was again at the cutting-edge of things, finishing 5th over the 4,500m course in the U-17 girls, whilst Killarney Valley's Grace O'Meara and Maria Murnane were in the leading pack in the girls U-19s, finishing 3rd and 5th respectively.

James Dillon (Lios Tuathail) and Karl James O'Neill (Killarney Valley) renewed their cross-country rivalry in the Boys U-19s with Dillon just getting the edge this time finishing in 4th place with O'Neill not far behind in 6th.

In the Senior Men, Conor Kissane (Killarney Valley) followed up his Munster Novice win with a fine 5th place finish with the experienced Brian Murphy (Iveragh) finishing 8th and will now head to the British & Irish Masters cross-country meet in Belfast in great shape. Held alongside the senior event, Jack O'Leary had a strong run taking 5th in the Men's U-23 race.