Letterkenny Athletics Club Notes



The 2017 Donegal Grand Prix is now in full swing, with a plethora of events having already taken place in the first few weeks. There were several events in the past week and, as has been the situation in many races in recent years,  Letterkenny AC runners were at the sharp end  of the races.
Ivan Toner was first across the line in Tuesday evening’s Kilmacrennan 5K. His winning time was 16.32 and he was followed home by club mate Liam Doherty, whose time was 17.15. Gerard McGranaghan was 5th in 18.07.
Monica McGranaghan continued her purple patch by taking yet another senior women’s first place in 19.28. Another LAC runner in excellent form is John Hughes, who continued his recent success in the M50 category with a time of 19.29. Next was triathlete Siobhan Gallagher, who was the 2nd senior woman in 19.49. Paul Lee clocked 20.14. Kevin Greenan showed that he has recovered from the recent Boston Marathon by taking the M60 prize in 21.56. Fellow LAC Brian Gallagher M60 clocked 24.06.
Junior runner,  Kevin McGettigan finished in 25.31 and Claire Price’s time was  30.46.
Wednesday evening’s Colaiste Ailigh 5K in Letterkenny was a phenomenal occasion for LAC, with a septuple of club PBs. Annemarie McGlynn ran one of the best ever 5Ks  by a woman in a Donegal road race. Her time of 15.37 gave her 2nd place overall, 1st place in the women’s race and a PB.  City of Derry Spartans’ Kyle Doherty was the race winner in 15.30.
Padraig Friel was rewarded for his recent tough training program and warm weather training with a PB of 17.11, 5th place overall and 1st place in the M40 category. Next was Noeleen Scanlan, who continues to build on her impressive cross country season by improving in every outing. She finished in 17.37 to take 23 seconds off her PB. She was the second woman home.
Michael Galvin had an excellent run, finishing in 18.31and gaining a PB. Peter Gallagher’s time of 19.11 was also a PB. Irene McFadden was the 1st F40 in 19.16. John Doherty, guided round by Colly O’Donnell, ran a PB time of 20.54. Noreen McGettigan clocked 21.05 and Megan Skinnader 22.31.
Linda Cronin achieved a PB of 25.14. Clodagh O’Connor came home in 26.39, Altan Ni Mhurchu in 26.55 and Roise Ni Dhomhnaill in 27.09
Ivan Toner made it 2 wins inside a few days when he emerged victorious from Friday evening’s Ayr Hill National School (Ramelton) 5K. Ivan’s time of 16.39 saw him finish 85 seconds clear of his closest challenger, John Whoriskey of Milford AC. Shauna McGeehan was the 1st woman in 20.48. Marian Kerr continued her good form and  took the F40 prize in 22.46
Linda Cronin showed he had recovered from the exertions of her PB earlier in the week to run 26.59 in Saturday’s Letterkenny parkrun. Diarmaid Doherty finished in 27.45.
Peter McLean turned in a fine display in the energy sapping Wild Atlantic way Adventure Run on Saturday.
Several LAC runners demonstrated in the Ulster District Schools Track and Field that the club will continue as one of Ireland’s most successful athletic clubs for a long time. Matthew Johnston took 3rd place in the 800m and went one better in the 1500m. Donal Farren was 3rd in the 1500m. Eoin Hughes had a superb run in the 5000m. He had a double  success as he won the race and he recorded a PB of 16.33. In the same race, his club mate, Rayan Maguella, was 3rd in 16.55, which was also a PB.
Several LAC runners ran in Sunday’s Lifford/Strabane half marathon. Paul McFadden had an excellent debut half marathon, coming  home in 1.22.24. Patrick Brennan had a fine run and finished in 1.27.47. Peter Hamilton came home in 1.35.37, Adrian Callaghan in 1.39.30 and Paul Lee in 1.40.26. M60, Kevin Greenan, showed again his immense powers of recovery and, just a few weeks after the Boston Marathon, finished in 1.41.54. Frank Pinder clocked 1.41.55 and Noel Lynch 1.55.29. The race winner was African, Dan Tanui, in 1.06.15.
* Letterkenny AC is looking forward to hosting the Inter Firms 5K on Tuesday evening. This will be the 40th continuous time that the event has taken place. Registration is from 5.30 at Aura Leisure Centre and the race starts at 7.30. The club is grateful to Hickey, Clarke and Langan Insurance Brokers for sponsoring the event and for the loyalty and support they have shown this race and the club over a long period of time.
                                     Hugh Gallagher
                                 Letterkenny AC PRO.


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