Team medals all around for the Striders at the county senior road race as the men’s team bridged a 37 year gap to win their first title since 1982 and the Striders ladies won a fantastic team silver. The club has been through a lot of ups and downs in those intervening years and a result like this is of great significance. In 2008, our club, couldn’t field a men’s or ladies team, had no under age setup and almost folded. Thanks to lots of great work since then, our fortunes have turned around to such an extent that we are back, leading the way in senior Wexford athletics. Additionally we have one of the healthiest juvenile systems in the south east, which will hopefully provide many young athletes who wish to transition to senior athletics.
The Striders Ladies were in action first, recording their best result in recent years, taking second place, in the club event. Over 5km, Nicola Murphy, neice of the legendary coach Junior Cashin, in third place, in a time of 20-16, led home the team which included Beth O’ Connor, Sonya Byrne, Caitriona McLoughlin, Catherine Ronan and Lettie Roche. The team were only a handful of points from first place, which is a remarkable improvement on previous years. Well done to this talented bunch who have worked hard, getting to this position
As the rain came down, the Striders men’s squad put in a golden performance over the 10km course. It was fitting that Aeden Rogers, who came through the Striders under age system, led home the senior men. Having just graduated from juvenile athletics, Aedan continues on an upward trajectory and recorded a fantastic time of 33-51, which was good enough for a fourth place finish. Making up the winning team, were Paul Doran, Brendan Lyng and Joe Lillis, who all finished in the top ten. With real strength in depth the remaining Striders squad of Alan O’ Connor, John McGrath, George Delaney, Sean Murphy, Ted Flannelly, Pat Murray, Liam Traynor, John Hickey, John Kent, Pat O’ Callaghan, Dirk Adrichem, Eddie Murphy, Michael O’ Gorman and Emmett Malone almost claimed a team bronze medal, finishing one point back in fourth. Well done to all our senior athletes who contributed to a very special Striders AC evening.
