It had been 12 years since UCD won a national cross country title. This all changed on Saturday 10th March when UCD fielded a team that included Ciara Mageean (World junior silver medallist) Ciara Everard (National Indoor Champion) Laura Shaughnessy (National Intermediate XC Champion) and Sports Scholarship student Ellie Hartnett.

Even with the students now training off campus, UCD athletic club continues to grow in & return elite team and individual performances. After the men’s team win at the National road relays in November the women showed that they too are a force to be reckoned with. Coming together to dominate at national level with a comprehensive victory in Saturday’s National IUAA intervarsity cross country.

It was sunny & warm but the course was very testing with difficult underfoot conditions and many hills, over a distance of 5k. UCD girls Ciara Mageean & Laura Shaughnessy controlled the pace until the half way mark, UCD’s Ciara Mageean then moved to the front and pushed the pace, opening a gap that continued to grow to approximately 300m at the finish line.

800m National Indoor Champion Ciara Everard produced a fast last 1km to secure 3rd position.DCU were always going to put up a good fight but in the end the UCD girl’s superior talent was too much for their rivals.

The mens team headed by club captain Richard Owens also secured a podium position, finishing 3rd team. A great performance considering the majority of the team are middle distance runners.

Results:  Womens 5k

1.      UCD

2.      DCU

3.      Trinity

Mens 10k

1.      DCU

2.      WIT

3.      UCD