The long awaited European Cross Country Championships finally took place at the Sports Ireland Campus in Abbotstown today and what a fantastic and thrilling televised spectacle it turned out to be. St Coca's were proudly represented by Aoife O'Cuill in the women's U23 and a team bus load of supporters went along on the day to cheer her on. 20 year-old Aoife, who was selected following her success at the National Championships in November, ran a solid race placing 32nd behind two of her teammates Sarah Healy and Danielle Donegan in the U23 6,000M. It turned out to be a great day for Ireland with the U23 men's team taking gold and the men's U20 team taking silver. The event also saw the highly anticipated senior debut of Jakob Ingebrigsten from Norway who, at the age of 21, took gold in the senior men's 10K in 30:15. So important for the sport to give the opportunity to upcoming athletes to be inspired by and to even meet the best of the best competing on Irish soil and some delighted St Coca's fans, and upcoming cross country runners themselves, pictured with the winning U23 team below and also with former 3-time Olympian marathon runner Dick Hooper. What a brilliant day and thanks to the many members that went along today to cheer on the home teams. Well done also to Carmel Kelly who was an official on the day.