ENNIS’ DEAN CASEY has won a bronze medal at the European Cross Country Championships with Mark Hanrahan also part of the U20 team that won the overall silver medal.
Ireland have claimed a record medals haul of five at the European Cross Country Championships held at La Mandria Park in Italy.
Dean Casey of Ennis Track took the bronze medal in the U20 race with Nick Griggs pipped to gold by Great Britain’s Will Barnicoat.
Both Dean and Nick were part of the U20 Irish team that won the overall silver medal to add to the celebrations. They were joined by Mark Hanrahan also of Ennis Track, Jonas Stafford, Callum Morgan and Sean McGinley.
Hanrahan finished 53rd in the field of 100. He and Dean are both trained by Pat Hogan.
Casey who finished thirteenth in the Championships last year was quick to reference his hard work in 2022 paying dividends. “It was absolutely great to see that Nick did come second, I was able to see throughout the whole race fighting for the number one spot and only getting pipped before the line you couldn’t have asked much more from him. For me, it’s unreal, I came thirteenth last year when I knew I wasn’t the best so coming third shows how much training I’ve done and all that”.
Elsewhere, the Irish Women’s team won bronze, the Irish men finished eighth and the Irish men’s U23 team also won bronze.
