Superb silver for Loreto, Letterkenny in Waterford

Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny claimed a superb team silver medal at Saturday's 123.ie All Ireland Schools’ Cross Country Championships.

At a rain-soaked SETU in Waterford, Loreto surged to second in the intermediate girls race.

Loreto finished on 81 points, beaten only by Mount Sackville of Chapelizod, who scored 70.

They were led by the excellent Anna Russell in 17th, finishing in 15 minutes and 30 seconds.

Sarah Henry in 20th and Emma Bonar in 44th also scored for Loreto.

Impressive bronze for Ashleigh McArdle in Sheffield

Lifford-Strabane AC's Ashleigh McArdle recorded a new long jump PB in the under-17 women's pentathlon

They were backed up by Sophia Ward (53rd) and Lucy Toner (58th).

Loreto's athletes were accompanied by Claire McGinley and Sharon Bradely.

Mount Sackville were inspired to team gold by the race winner, Emily Bolton.

In the junior girls race, St Columba's College, Stranorlar finished an agonising fourth.

Holly McNulty led the way in 19th with Aimee McElchar not far away in 21st and Nia Byrne also scoring in 30th. The trio were followed by Anna O'Connor-O'Donoghue, who finished 64th.

St Columba's concluded on 70 points, beaten to bronze by Ursuline Convent, Thurles, who tallied 61.

In the senior girls race, Eimear McCarroll, a Finn Valley AC athlete competing with Loreto Omagh was eighth while her clubmate and Loreto Letterkenny student Sarah Bradley finished 22nd.

Alex McMullin from Abbey Vocational School was 28th in the junior boys race, Ciaran McCarroll, a Finn Valley AC runner who attends Omagh CBGS, was 33rd in the intermediate boys and St Columba's College's Andrea Reid was 51st in the minor girls.