Ireland have claimed the team gold medal in the Men's U23 event on a stunning start to the day for team Ireland at this morning’s 2021 SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Abbotstown.
Darragh McElhiney then followed them up with individual silver in the Men's U23 8,000m.
McElhinney's performance, coupled with a sixth-place finish for Keelan Kilrehil and 13th for Michael Power, saw Ireland take the team gold medal.
The Irish men’s U20 also secured a superb team silver medal
The team of Abdel Laadjel (6th), Dean Casey (13th), Nick Griggs (16th), Scott Fagan (21st), Sean Kay (50th ), and Cathal O’Reilly (77th) produced a superb Irish display to secure the silver, with the first three athletes home all inside the top 20, for a combined score of 35.
Great Britain & NI (34) secured the team gold, with Israel taking bronze (37).
Individual Medal Alert🥈
And it's SILVER for Darragh McElhiney in the Men's U23 8000m in a time of 24:33 🇮🇪
What an amazingly brave performance McElhiney 👏👏
Live results ➡️ https://t.co/hcbMglsD5P#FingalDublin2021 pic.twitter.com/MZveizqtHN— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) December 12, 2021
The individual gold medal went the way of Axel Vang Christensen of Denmark (17.53) who thrilled fans will a brilliant front running display. Abdullahi Dahir Rabi (18.18) of Norway claimed the individual silver, with Denmark’s Joel Ibler Lilleso (18.21) taking bronze.
Individual Race Result
1 DEN CHRISTENSEN Axel Vang 17:53
2 NOR RABI Abdullahi Dahir 18:18
3 DEN LILLESØ Joel Ibler 18:21
Ireland Results - Club – Coach - Result
Men's U20 - Abdel Laadjel - Donore Harriers AC - Ray Treacy 6th 18:30
Men's U20 - Dean Casey - Ennis Track Club - Pat Hogan 13th 18:38
Men's U20 - Nick Griggs - Mid Ulster AC - Mark Kirk 16th 18:42
Men's U20 - Scott Fagan - Metro St Brigid's - Brian Tremble 21st 18:49
Men's U20 - Sean Kay - Clonliffe Harriers - Stephen Bateson 50th 19:22
Men's U20 - Cathal O'Reilly - Kilkenny City Harriers - Niamh Richardson 77th 20:01
Team Result
1 Great Britain & NI 34
2 Ireland 35
3 Israel 37
