ATHLETICS TEAM WIN AGAIN!

FOUR TROPHIES OUT OF 5 WON BY OUR ATHLETIC'S IN THE STUNNING SHOW OF TALENT AT THE NORTH WEST ATHLETICS COMPETITION ON THURSDAY NIGHT 18TH JUNE.

The boys and girls took part in the North West Athletics Competition where they win 4 out of the 5 cups up for grabs. Best Boys' Team, Best Girls' Team, Best Girl Athlete (Erin) and Best School Overall.

The team get a rousing cheer and applause in assembly on Friday when the brought their trophies and medals to school.

Winners of the Derry Schools Cross Country Series this year.

Winners of the Western Area Cross Country Championships.

January 2009

Ashling, Erin and Lauren who were the firast three st. Eithne's girls home.

Erin

At the start it I was really nervous and you really feel that you don’t want to run especially as your legs are like jelly to begin with. I didn’t see the starter girl drop her arms but as soon as everybody started running I just sprinted for about 50 or 60 metres just to get away from everybody. When I got away from them I settled down to a jog and the whole lot of us just settled into groups. This turned into a single line.

As I tried to overtake those in front of me they went just that little bit harder but once I got beyond them they didn’t try to catch.

The ground was dry today and we didn’t really need our spikes but we wouldn’t have been allowed to wear them anyway because in past events people were complaining that they were getting spiked deliberately.

When you come round the corner I spotted the red and white tape. At that stage I just had to go flat out . It was exhausting but you just have to sprint so that no one can overtake you and in hopes that you can get passed those in front who have no energy left. I shot past about six or seven girls and thankfully came in 10th. My competitor number was also ten. That must have been an omen. I just went straight down onto my hunkers. Oh, I was really tired but I knew I had done well and it felt just great.

This was all so brilliant because enough of our team were at the front to come third overall. It meant that everybody in our team got a medal.

Jimmy

The starter was standing with her arms outstretched and when she dropped we all surged forward striding forward but lightly sprinting to get a head start. I started out about 7th and then I just began to jog. This race was shorter than usual but it had to be a kilometre at least. They cut a whole section out since the last race and instead of crossing the road we went up the hill. All through a race you just make sure that you use up every last bit of energy.

This time at the last flat part we came to a hill up to the football pitches. As we got to the end I was pure knackered and it seemed that my throat was on fire.

I raced into a sort of a tunnel of tape where people finished and we had to queue. A judge gave us a card with where we came written on it. I came 6th and thankfully the rest of our team were right behind me and hey we were just great because we came FIRST.

I just dropped outside the finish tape and laid down beside my friend John was who was already lying on the ground.  I just collapsed beside him trying to get some air.

I really enjoyed the race actually because it was a little shorter than usual and of course we WON!