IT WAS A hugely successful day for Team Ireland at the European Cross Country Championships in Lisbon, with plenty of medals secured.
Efrem Gidey — on his international debut in the green singlet — and Cork’s Stephanie Cotter both landed bronze medals in the underage categories, while Ireland won two silver medals in the team events.
Two-time champion Fionnuala McCormack fell agonisingly short in the senior women’s race, as the Wicklow star had to settle for a fourth-placed finish.
One of Ireland’s big medal hopes, McCormack was edged out of the medal positions by Sweden’s Samrawit Mengsteab in the final kilometre.
While Turkey’s Yasemin Can won it out and Norway’s Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal claimed the silver medal, there was a consolation prize for McCormack and joy for the Irish as herself, Ciara Mageean (20th) and Aoibhe Richardson (17th) ensured a second-place team finish.
Meet the silver six! 🇮🇪🥈🇮🇪
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) December 8, 2019
Ciara Mageean, Mary Mulhare, Fionnuala Mccormack, Fionnuala Ross, Una Britton and Aoibhe Richardson - take a bow, ladies 🇮🇪👏🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/4fksfIWqgE
“Obviously not an individual finish, but a team one makes up for it all,” McCormack — whose sister, Una Britton, was also part of the team — said afterwards. “Not just our team, but all the teams over the last few hours today.”
Mageean added that it was “probably the toughest race I’ve ever ran in my life.”
Earlier, Cotter was third in the U23 women’s race to take bronze, while her team were also second in the standings. Six ran, but it was twin sisters Eilish and Roisin Flanagan whose placings counted as the team landed silver.
Let's hear it for the European silver medallists!! 🇮🇪🥈🇮🇪
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) December 8, 2019
Claire Fagan, Roisin Flanagan, Stephanie Cotter, Fian Sweeney, Eilish Flanagan and Sorcha McAlister - TAKE A BOW ⭐ pic.twitter.com/dSgm5R1XhK
Earlier, Clonliffe Harriers’ Giddey sealed bronze in the men’s U20 race.
The 19-year-old, who is originally from Eritrea and came to Ireland two years ago after time in refugee camps, finished with a time of 19.01, behind second-placed Ayetullah Aslanhan of Turkey and Norway’s Jakob Ingerbrigtsen.
“Before I was thinking that I need a top ten place,” Giddey said afterwards. “Third place… I’m so happy, I don’t believe it. That’s amazing.”
"I'm so happy. I don't believe it." 🤯
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) December 8, 2019
Meet your European U20 bronze medallist, Efrem Gidey!!!
🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🥉🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/FMOOWYOkyW
His team narrowly missed out on bronze, with the Portuguese pipping them following a recheck of results.
Elsewhere in the men’s senior race, Sean Tobin was the first of the Irish home (18th). It was his third straight top 20 at Euro Cross Country.
Before today, Ireland hadn’t won a medal at the European Cross Country Championships since 2015. They finished up with four — and fourth on the medal table.
Before today Ireland hadn't won a European Cross Country medal since 2015, and they leave with four - two team silvers and two individual bronzes. Fourth on the medal table. Some going all around for next year's hosts. pic.twitter.com/wRs2XDaaLr
— Cathal Dennehy (@Cathal_Dennehy) December 8, 2019
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