By 
A TEACHER from Lifford who made her international running debut in Portugal earlier this month says the support she has received made her “proud to be Irish.”
Noeleen Scanlon (née Geary) from Drumkeen in Donegal is a teacher at St Patrick’s National School, Murlog and she took part in the European Champion Clubs Cup Cross Country at Oeiras, near Lisbon on Sunday.
Noeleen represented Ireland in the team event alongside Nikita Burke from Letterkenny and Natasha Adams from Raphoe. Unfortunately, Christine Russell, also from Letterkenny had to withdraw from the team due to injury.
They were also representing their home club, Letterkenny Athletics Club and had qualified for the event after winning gold in the national championships in December.
“We lost one of the other girls, Christine Russell, who had a hamstring injury,” Noeleen explained. “She pulled out and decided not to go. It was sad for Christine because that would have been her first time too, competing at that level.
“So the pressure was on the three of us then to make sure we did our best.”
Prior to the race, Noeleen had said the target was a top ten finish and despite admitting that the course was very challenging, the local teacher and her team-mates came in ninth overall.
“It was quite tough cross country,” she remarked. “It was actually very sandy and quite hilly on the four-lap course.
“But we were very pleased with ninth place. The aim was to get into the top ten and to achieve that was great. And there was such a buzz at the race. We were given the VIP treatment all weekend, all we had to think about was the race.
“Definitely, doing something like this gives you the drive to try and get to that level again.”
Back at school at St Patrick’s School this week and Noeleen’s young charges were full of pride for their teacher.
“They were all asking me how it went and so I was listing out all of the different clubs in Europe that were there,” Noeleen continued.
“They thought it was brilliant and the staff were all congratulating me as well.
“Everyone has been so supportive. The support around the course from the other Irish teams was great too. It made you feel proud to be Irish.”
Noeleen would like to extend a word of thanks to Theresa and Herbie McDaid and club chairperson, Aodhan McKenna and his wife Pat.
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