If you enjoy running or just want to keep your fitness up for another sport, cross country running could just be the activity for you. We meet on a Friday after school from 3.20-4.20pm and all you need is a water bottle and a good pair of trainers. We run at least a mile each week and we also cover speed work and stamina too. In October of each year, Loreto College holds the annual Year 8 race whereby all year 8 pupils run a mile around the school grounds.
The Mary McCabe Cup is presented to the top boy and the top girl and medals are also presented to the top twenty girls and the top twenty boys. From this race, the top six pupils are entered for the NEBBSA competition in the Autumn. We also enter pupils for the District C cross country competition in January. From this competition, you can proceed to the next level which is the Ulster Cross country championship which is held at the Mallusk playing fields, Belfast The top pupils in this race can proceed to the next Level -The Irish Cross Country Championship.
The top three pupils at the Ulster Championship are also selected to run in the mini London Marathon. We have had fantastic success over the last ten years and we have had our junior girls team winning the Irish championship. Two past pupils - Abigail McBroom and Niamh Carr ran so well at this level that they were selected to run as members of the Irish team at the International Cross Country Championships in Bolton. These two girls also ran fantastic races at the Mini London Marathon as part of the Northern Irish team over a few consecutive years. This incredible success started from year 8 cross country running and led to our Loreto pupils representing Ireland at an International event which is an amazing achievement!
So get your trainers on and come and join us!
