FIONA Everard made a promise to herself after winning the national senior women’s cross-country title for the first time in 2023 – if she won it again, she’d enjoy it more.

And the Enniskeane athlete did just that, surging to her second senior national crown in three years with a dominant display at the Templemore Sports Complex in Derry on Sunday afternoon.

Timing her move perfectly, Everard swept past Niamh Allen (Leevale AC) with just over a lap remaining and never looked back.

‘In 2023, on the final run to the line people were telling me to enjoy it and I almost felt like I couldn’t because I just wanted to get there, but this time I did enjoy it and take it in,’ Everard told The Southern Star.

‘One hundred metres from the finish I started smiling and I couldn’t get it off my face! I had this big cheesy grin, but I honestly couldn’t stop. I was able to soak it in and enjoy it. It felt class crossing the line.

‘There was a lot of relief as well,’ the Bandon AC star added, having reclaimed the title she first won in 2023. Back then, Everard was the surprise package; now, with two national titles in three years and selection for a third successive European Cross-Country Championships, she is firmly in the leading pack.

‘All season I’ve been training with the intent to win this again,’ she explained. ‘I knew the standard would be crazy this year. There are nine or ten people who, on their day, could win. I wanted to be in contention, so I was delighted to get it done.

‘I think if I had won it last year maybe I wouldn’t have appreciated it as much, but just being so disappointed with how the whole season went, I promised myself that if I was lucky enough to win it again I’d enjoy it and not take it for granted. So to win it twice is brilliant.’

Fiona Everard on her way to gold.

Over the 7500m distance, Everard ran a controlled race as Allen set the early pace. Now based back home in Enniskeane for the time being, the West Cork woman picked the perfect moment to strike.

‘Niamh took it out pretty hard from the start. I run my best races when I go out somewhat controlled and then finish stronger,’ Everard said.

‘I was running with Danielle (Donegan) for a lot of it – that helped because we were working together. There was no point going with Niamh that early because I wanted to finish strong, but I still wanted to make sure the gap didn’t get too big.

‘Once I got to two or three laps I knew I was running within myself and felt good, so I reeled Niamh back in. I was planning that, when I caught her, I wouldn’t go into the lead as it felt a bit early. I thought I’d sit with her for a bit. But I ended up feeling so good I thought, why not pick it up a small bit? I was able to build a gap, and thankfully I stretched it again on the last lap.’

Everard won in 26:49, followed home by Allen (27:04) and Donegan (27:10).

Next up is the 2025 SPAR European Cross Country Championships in the Mediterranean resort of Lagoa on December 14th.