Mayo girl gallops to All-Ireland schools cross-country title

The 123.ie All Ireland Schools Cross Country Championships intermediate girls race saw Freya Renton of Sacred Heart School, Westport, maintain her remarkable run of national championship wins.

A winner at The Connaught Telegraph Mayo Young Sports Stars Awards on Friday, Freya was back in action on Saturday to deliver a front-the-front display, crossing the line in isolation in a time of 12:32 (3,500m).

Freya's victory also saw SHS Westport take the team gold. The other team members were Freya's twin sister Holly (4), Aoibhinn McNamara (57), Erin Walsh (67), Lauren Clarke (74), Maud O'Reilly (78) and Choloe Donnellan (81).

There was further good news at the championships, held at Galway Racecourse, as St. Muredach's College, Ballina, finished third in the junior boys race. The team members were: Patrick Ruane (16), Eoghan Gallagher (30), Tommy Tighe (53), Ryan Murphy (66), Jamie McDonnell (99) and James Long (106).

In the senior races, Noah Harris (ETSS Wicklow) and Emily Bolton (The Institute of Education) secured the 2025 titles.

The intermediate boys' race was billed as one not to be missed, with several contenders looking to take the crown of Odhran McBrearty, but the St. Columba's (Stranorlar) athlete was not for stopping.

The junior titles went to last year’s minor champions, with Darragh Whelan (Castletroy College, Limerick) and Madison Welby (Friends School, Lisburn) hugely impressive in taking gold.

Kate Kelly (Mount Lourdes, Enniskillen) and Jack Brennan (Patrician Secondary School, Kildare) were very popular winner of the minor races and are both names to look out for in the future.

Full results can be found here.