National Novice
Sam Mealy at the National Novice
Both male and female teams competed for the club in one of the biggest cross-country gatherings in the country at The Curragh, Co. Kildare. The looped course only had minor hills but a few very muddy patches to ensure some old-school cross-country atmosphere. Aoife Joyce was first Crusader home in the ladies race (38th) and literally one second meant one position among the 151 finishers. The women’s team was 11th out of 16th with Tressan McCambridge, Emily Conroy and Catriona Joyce the other scorers.
In the men’s race, Sam Mealy would have fancied his chances of a medal after his dominant display in the Dublin Intermediate but he didn’t make the decisive break and had to settle for 5th, 26 seconds behind winner Eoin Everard. Stephen Moore (87th), Jason Kehoe (117th) and Richie Healy (138th), courtesy of a strong finish, came in among the scorers. 253 men competed on our team finished 15th out of 32. Sam Mealy’s finish was bittersweet as he finished first scorer on the winning Dublin team knocking him out of further Novice competition.
WOMEN
1. Laura Behan 11:22
38. Aoife Joyce, CRUSADERS 12:29
69. Tressan McCambridge, CRUSADERS 12:54
83. Emily Conroy, CRUSADERS 12:59
110. Catriona Joyce, CRUSADERS 13:36
131. Ilona McElroy, CRUSADERS 13:57
WOMEN (TEAM)
1. Donore Harriers 68
11. CRUSADERS 300
MEN
1. Eoin Everard 20:10
5. Sam Mealy, CRUSADERS 20:36
87. Stephen Moore, CRUSADERS no time
117. Jason Kehoe, CRUSADERS no time
138. Richard Healy, CRUSADERS no time
184. Gary Park, CRUSADERS no time
226. Rene Borg, CRUSADERS no time
MEN (team)
1. St. Malachy’s 42
15. CRUSADERS 347