An impressive performance from the Irish team in the senior women's event at the European Cross Country Championships this afternoon saw the country finish claim second place on the podium.
The team of Fionnuala McCormack, Aoibhe Richardson, Ciara Mageean, Mary Mulhare, Una Britton and Fionnuala Ross finished on 41 points, two points ahead of Portugal on 43 points. Great Britain and Northern Ireland ultimately won the team event on 26 points.
What a performance!!🙌🥈💪🇮🇪 https://t.co/KT4xd5O7gW pic.twitter.com/bJ3uTWdQfK
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) December 8, 2019
Unfortunately for McCormack, she finished just outside the medals in the individual event with Sweden's Samrawit Mengsteab overtaking the 35-year-old during the final stages of the race. But the two-time European champion can take solace in the fact that she led the Irish team on to the podium by finishing fourth in a competitive race.
It rounded up a hugely successful day for the Irish at the championships after Efrem Gidey won a bronze medal in the under-20 men's event. Similarly, Stephanie Cotter won bronze in the girls' under-23 event, which led Ireland to silver in the team event at the age grade.
