Young Irish duo compete as Africans dominate Cross Country

Anna Gardiner (East Down AC) and Kirsty Maher (Moy Valley AC) finished inside the top 40 in the Under-20 women's race at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade.

In sweltering conditions in the city’s Friendship Park, the Irish duo worked with each other magnificently to optimise their finishing position and were rewarded for doing so, moving up the field well throughout the race.

It will be a particularly memorable day for Gardiner, who also marks a milestone birthday today as she turns 18. The Down teenager crossed the line in 37th place, just two places ahead of Maher who was 39th.

Harry Colbert (Waterford AC) and Seamus Robinson (City of Derry Spartans AC), who had both been part of the Irish team that won gold at the European Cross Country Championships in Brussels late last year, competed valiantly in the U20 men’s race finishing 55th and 70th respectively.

Hugh Armstrong (Ballina AC) had stated during the week that the World Cross Country Championships was a race that he had always wanted to run and he certainly took his opportunity well when it was presented to him.

Racing in the senior men’s race along with fellow Mayo athlete Keelan Kilrehill (Moy Valley AC), both Irish athletes got into a nice rhythm during the race and began to pass fading athletes and gain positions.

Armstrong finished strongly in 50th overall, with Kilrehill just a few places back in 56th.

The men's race was won once more by Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo, who joined the likes of Kenenisa Bekele, Geoffrey Kamworor and Paul Tergat as a back-to-back winner.

Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi took silver behind Kiplimo for the second year in succession while Kenya’s Benson Kiplangat earned bronze.

2023 national senior cross country champion Fiona Everard