Morrison and McKenzie medal at Celtic International

This meet includes the Scottish Inter-District Cross Country event. While in the U17 – U23 age groups, young athletes represented Scotland against teams from Ireland and NI/Ulster in the Celtic Nations XC Challenge.

Enniskillen Running Club were proud to have two junior athletes on international duty.

Fifteen-year-old Harry McKenzie was making his international debut as part of the Ireland U17 team while Annabel Morrison was selected to run for a strong NI & Ulster women’s U20 team.

Both selections were based on medal winning performances in the National XC Finals held at a muddy Gowran Park, Kilkenny before Christmas.

The Irish teams faced tough competition from the home nation. Scottish middle-distance athletics is going through a purple period at the moment.

Jake Wrightman and Josh Kerr are world 1500m champions from 2022 and ‘23, while Laura Muir, Eilish McColgan and Jemma Reekie excel on the global stage over the middle distances. All these athletes started their running careers on the Scottish cross-country scene. As recently as 2021 Laura Muir smashed the short course record at this venue showing the benefit of a strong endurance base for all athletes.

The races were held at King George V Playing Fields at Renfrew, Glasgow with over 700 athletes taking part.

It is a flat course with long straights alongside football pitches and some tight corners.

The ground was firm, and conditions were crisp, with a biting cold wind to welcome the runners.

The women’s races were first up; U17 and U20 girls ran together with 74 runners taking part. Annabel Morrison has continued her fine form from last year and was part of the lead pack from the gun. She ran a brilliant race to finish fifth overall and second NI /Ulster girl behind her Ulster teammate Anna Gardiner from East Down. She was rewarded with a sliver team medal for Ulster behind the home nation.

Soon after the girls’ race, 87 men toed the line in the combined the U17 and U20 race over 6k.

It was Harry McKenzie’s first Irish vest, and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Not afraid to mix it with the ‘big boys’ he ran out hard and clearly enjoyed the flat straights making up ground where he could.

In the last 300m he picked off several older athletes in the home straight finishing on the line with three men running 19mins dead for 6k on grass.

In the combined U17/U20 age race, it can be difficult to work out the position in your age group. Harry was delighted with his 13th place overall, finishing first in the Irish U17 team. He was thrilled to later learn that he placed second in the U17 race winning silver. He also won a team silver medal with Ireland behind their Scottish hosts.

Both athletes can be extremely proud of their performances and will look forward to the school Cross Country competitions closer to home, in a few weeks’ time.

Podium finishes

On the roads another young Enniskillen athlete, Nadine McIntyre, back from College, had several podium finishes racing over the Christmas period with placings in Greencastle 5 miler on Boxing Day, runner-up position in the Loughmacrory 5 followed by victory in Glaslough 5k on New Year’s Day.

Not to be outdone, there was also victories on the roads for young Enniskillen Running Club athlete Jamie McDonnell in the Cavan Christmas Dash 5k and teammate Harry McKenzie in the Expleo Belfast 5k on New Years Eve.

Edel earns NI & Ulster selection

Meanwhile, Edel Monaghan has been selected on the 4-woman NI & Ulster team who travel to Parliament Hill in London on Saturday to compete in the Home Nations International Cross-Country Championships.

This is in recognition of the successful cross-country season for the Irvinestown woman who won the Dublin XC title and was second Ulster athlete and top 10 finisher in the national senior women’s Cross Country race in Gowran Park.

She led her club Dublin City Harriers to consecutive national team titles. Edel followed this up with victory on New Year’s Eve Lough 5 miler.