Newcastle AC
Newcastle AC’s Harry McVeigh won the U-13 race at Sunday’s NI and Ulster Novice and Uneven Age Cross Country Championships.
Several junior athletes made the 200-mile round trip to Ballybofey for Sunday’s event. McVeigh was travelling there as a double Flahavan’s Schools’ cross-country champion,
Weeks earlier, he had produced a remarkable performance to claim victory in the U-14 race at the NI and Ulster Even Age Cross Country Championships in Comber, where he outpaced Dylan O’Reilly of Shercock AC.
That victory placed McVeigh firmly in the spotlight on Sunday, with expectations high for another strong performance in Ballybofey.
True to form, the young athlete displayed trademark composure on the start line, executing a clear race plan with focus and determination.
From the gun, McVeigh took control of Sunday’s U-13 race, setting a strong early pace while keeping tight lines through the corners. Donal Devlin of ‘Keep Er Lit’ AC, a familiar rival, shadowed closely for the opening 500 metres before the pair began to separate from the rest of the field.
The duel between the two brought back memories of last year’s dramatic finish, when Devlin celebrated prematurely and McVeigh snatched victory on the line. This time, however, there was no doubt about the outcome. Under clear blue skies, McVeigh powered home with a seven-second advantage over Devlin, who in turn was seven seconds clear of third place, a decisive and emphatic result that left no questions unanswered.
McVeigh’s dominance now extends across five consecutive age categories, from U-10 through to U-14 level, cementing his reputation as the athlete to beat in Northern Ireland and Ulster junior cross-country running. He will next line up in Dublin this December at the national championships, aiming to improve on his impressive third-place finish from last year, and if his current form is any indication, he will once again be a top contender.
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