The European Cross Country Championships held in the Bulgarian mountain resort of Sarakov last month marked another milestone in the promising athletic career of Poetry student Jack O’Leary. Following a medal winning performance at the All Ireland Club Cross Country in November (pictured above), Jack secured his berth on the Irish team. What makes this achievement even more impressive is that he has only just turned seventeen and has two more years to compete in this European ‘Junior’ category.
Jack’s development into an international class athlete has been steady. He has shown tremendous promise, potential and dedication since his arrival in CWC and has brought many medals and honours back to the college from cross country, track and tetrathlon events. Prior to his selection for the Europeans, perhaps his greatest achievement was capturing the All Ireland Schools Under 16 Mile title in 2013. In fact, Jack has been a medal winner at all three All Ireland Schools finals he has been eligible to attend.
The future does indeed look bright for the Mullingar lad but for now, never one to rest on his laurels, he has already turned his attention to his next great ambition, to win the All Ireland Schools Senior Cross Country title on March 7th, an event being hosted here at CWC, over a track he knows every inch of.
For more on Jack’s development click here.
Mr Shane Heslin