Danny Mooney produced another outstanding display of track running at the weekend at the highly presigious International Flanders Athletics Meeting in Oordegem, Belgium. He ran 3.42.74 in the 1500m. Earlier in the week, Danny ran a superb time of 1.56.07 to win the 800m at the Lifford Strabane AC Open Meet. Danny has shown in the past week that he is well prepared for an excellent track season.
There was also a major breakthrough in Lifford for young Matthew Johnston who ran a sub 2 minute 800m time of 1.59.80.
Ivan Toner stormed to victory in Tuesday evening’s Drumoghill 5K. The multiple winner of the Donegal Athletics Grand Prix crossed the line in 16.18 to finish more than a minute and a half clear of 2nd placed Paul Dillon of Lifford Strabane AC. Barry Mackey continued his recent fine form to claim 6th place in 19.21. Naoise Enright came home in 21.00. Long time LAC man, Philip Connolly, finished in 24.21.
On Wednesday night, the action turned to Buncrana and to the Furey Insurance 5K where fast times are usually the order of the day. This year was no exception and LAC runners turned in some phenomenal displays. 2 club runners turned in sub 16 minute performances. One was a man who is no stranger to sub 16, the other one of Ireland’s outstanding young talents. Pauric Breslin was 5th in 15.26; Eoin Hughes recorded his first ever sub 16 minute 5K by clocking 15.47. Mark McKinstry of North Belfast Harriers was the race winner in a very fast time of 15.08.
Paul McGlinchey had another fine run in his comeback from a prolonged abscence due to injury and finished in 16.25. Raymond Birch had an excellent time of 16.40. Noeleen Scanlan, in the form of her life, recorded yet another PB. Her impressive time of 17.31 saw her finish 2nd to Finn Valley’s Teresa Doherty; the new mother ran an excellent time of 16.35.
Padraig Friel is one of the huge number of LAC runners who are currently receiving the rewards of tough training schedules. Padraig finished in 17.43. Maria Ni Mhaloagian had an impressive run and was the 3rd woman in a time of 18.35. Marcus McClintock came home in 18.42. Richard Raymond’s good form continued and his time was 21.42.
In-form Fionnuala Diver became one of a very small number of women runners to be overall race winners. Fionnuala won Thursday evening’s Diver’s Hyundai Relay for Life 5K in a time of 18.23. 3rd placed John McFadden was the first M40 runner in 19.45. Mark Hunter was 5th in a time of 20.27. Seamus Quinn came home in 23.40, young Jamie Callaghan in 28.28, Gerard Callaghan in 29.40 and LAC warhorse Jimmy Gildea finished in 31.48.
Paul Lee ran the Letterkenny parkrun for the 18th time on Saturday morning. His time of 22.22 gave him 4th place overall and 1st place in the M50-54 category. Richard Raymond ran his second 5K in 3 days and did so in a faster time than in Buncrana. The big Kerryman continues to defy the years. He ran a time of 21.39 which saw him finish 5th overall and 1st in the M60-64 group. Naoise Enright ran his fastest time to date, recording a time of 22.47. Linda Cronin ran an excellent time of 26.38. She was the 2nd woman and was first in the VW 35-39 category.
The LAC lotto results for 25th May are as follows:
Numbers drawn- 2,4,5,6.
No jackpot winner. 4 x match 2 winners win €20 each- Neily McDaid, Ita Birch, Ruby Sheridan, Harry Sheridan.
Next week’s jackpot is €1950.
Hugh Gallagher.
LAC PRO.
