The all conquering women of Letterkenny Athletic Club took Omagh by storm on Saturday. They achieved outstanding individual and team results in the Omagh Half Marathon. Annmarie McGlynn was an impressive winner of the women’s race in 1.14.28. In the process, she eclipsed the course record which had stood for 18 years. Nakita Burke had an excellent half marathon debut by claiming second place in 1.21.17. A fine run of 1.37.28 by Shauna McGeehan ensured first prize in the team event. The 3 LAC ladies garnered 33 points, leaving them a comfortable 27 points clear of the 2nd team, Armagh AC.
There were also excellent performances from the LAC men who took part in the event which enjoyed perfect weather conditions and that made a change from most running events that have taken place so far this Spring. Sean McFadden clocked 1.21.17 and Barry Mackey 1.32.08. Both men showed the benefits of their recent intensive warm weather training. Both were a highly creditable 7th in their very competitive categories, Sean in M40 and Barry in M55.
Peter Hamilton clocked 1.33.49, Ciaran O’Donnell 1.34.12, Stephen Shiels 1.36.44 and Paul Lee 1.38.07. Cathal Roarty swapped his usual Saturday beat around the Letterkenny parkrun for Omagh and was rewarded with a good time of 1.46.46. Kevin Greenan was 8th in the M60 category in 1.49.29 and Noel Lynch, another Letterkenny parkrun regular, came home in 1.54.31.
Kieran Coyle travelled to the Netherlands at the weekend where he ran a fine time of 3.40.02 in the Rotterdam Marathon, 1 of the world’s iconic road races. Kieran’s performance placed him inside the first 22% of the 13978 finishers and he was 511th out of the 1730 finishers in the very tough M40 category. Kenyan, Kenneth Kipkemoi was the race winner in 2.05.42. Kipkemoi’s time was the 118th best ever marathon time. Every one of the top 100 runners’ times have come from countries on the African continent, underlining the total dominance enjoyed by African athletes in long distance running.
Paul Toner recorded the fastest of his 11 Letterkenny parkruns to date when he ran 19.34 for Saturday’s 5K. Paul was 4th and was one of 5 Letterkenny AC runners to finish 1st in their age category as he was the first M40 across the line. Martin Gormley was the next runner home after Paul and he was the leading M50 runner. Richard Raymond was a top 10 finisher and the first M60 in 23.10. James McBride’s time of 24.36 was the fastest of the M65s. Peter McLean finished his 73rd Letterkenny parkrun in 25.32. Marian Kerr was the 2nd female finisher and was the 5th of the LAC runners to lead their category, as she was the first F40 finisher. The winner of the parkrun was Eamonn O’Donnell who clocked 18.04 on his debut run.
Mary Sweeney’s conscientious training in recent months paid dividends in Sunday’s Run Donegal Women’s 5K when she finished 11th out of the 651 finishers. Mary’s time was 22.33. Margaret Shiels also ran well and finished in 23.56. Maura O’Grady showed that she has recovered well from the previous weekend’s tough Ballyliffin 10 mile race and crossed the line in 25.21. The race was a memorial event for Lisa McGranaghan and it was fitting that the race was won by her sister in law, Catriona Devine, whose time was 19.50. All the proceeds of the 5K go to the Donegal Hospice, a very deserving cause.
Hugh Gallagher.
Letterkenny Athletic Club PRO.
