Superb display by Mary Watters

There were two reasons to be cheerful over the weekend for consistent Navan athlete Mary Watters who claimed the ladies over-45 title at the North County Farmers cross-country race in Swords on Saturday and the masters ladies 1500 metres crown at the Leinster Indoor Championships in Nenagh on Sunday. Not to be outdone, her daughter, Aisling, was second in the u-18 60-metre hurdle at the Tipperary venue. Mary Hanley from Na Fianna claimed the masters ladies 3000 metres title at the Leinster Indoor championships and Brigid Clarke took the over-40s crown at the cross-country in Swords. Clarke"s superb run helped Na Fianna to the team title with Ann Marie McCloskey and Margaret Neary also performing well. There was triple Meath success in the five-mile race at the cross-country in Swords with South O"Hanlon"s Mark Leacy, Trim"s Noel Hanratty and Summerhill"s Ollie Payne claiming the over-45, over-55 and over-65 races respectively. McCloskey (over-40) and Marie Reilly (over-50) completed a memorable meet for local athletes by claiming third place in their grades. Navan"s Joey Monaghan was top of the pile in the senior 60-metre sprint and the senior 200 metres at the Leinster Championships in Nenagh. Robbie Matthews (Dunshaughlin) finished third overall in the men"s five-mile race. The Meath Community Games cross-country finals took place at Loughcrew, Oldcastle on Sunday. There was a great turnout and running conditions were quite good, although competitors did have to brave a biting cold wind. Winners in the u-14, u-13 and u-12 age-groups will have an opportunity to represent Meath in the national finals in Athlone next April. St. Brigid"s AC, Oldcastle organised the venue and provided the necessary support for running a successful event.