Nakita Burke turned in another phenomenal performance in Sunday afternoon’s VHI Women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin. She earned herself yet another 10K PB, when she finished 8th in a high quality field in a time of 36.40. Catriona Jennings had a superb run to finish 10th in 36.50. The third LAC runner, Monica McGranaghan, was also in fine form. She ran a new PB, of 39.44.
Letterkenny AC runners were to the fore in Thursday evening’s Scoile Mhuire 5K in Ramelton.
Raymond Birch notched up his 3rd 5K PB within a couple of weeks. His winning time of 16.12 shaved 7 more seconds off the PB he had set just 8 days earlier. Ivan Toner continued his comeback to competitive action with an excellent 2nd place finish in 16.35. Ivan was also the leading M40 runner.
Darren Price continued the good form he has shown since returning from back surgery and crossed the line in 17.50. He was the next M40 runner. Niamh Kelly was the first woman in 18.03 and was followed by Shauna McGeehan in 19.17.
Kevin Ferry clocked 18.14 and Ciaran O’Donnell 18.57. Paul Cosgrove won the M50 category in 19.47. Deirdre Diver was rewarded for her conscientious and consistent training and was the 3rd woman in 20.26. Richard Raymond had a fine run and took 2nd place in a competitive M60 category in 21.59. Anthony Farren’s time was 22.43. Dara Dunne won the F50 category in 22.47. M60 runner, Hugh Gallagher, finished in 24.23 and fellow M60 runner, Phillip Connolly, in 26.42.
LAC runners were also heavily involved in the organisation of the very succesful event. Organiser, Frances Judge, who works in the school, was ably helped by Seamus Gallagher, Teresa McDaid and Brendan McDaid.
The previous night’s Letterkenny Gaels 5K also saw a LAC winner. Ciaran McGonagle, was first across the line in 16.30. Michael Galvin was 3rd overall, and first in the M40 category, in a time of 19.48. The women’s race was also won by a LAC runner, with Noeleen Scanlon winning in 20.12.
John Hughes was the leading M50 runner in 20.18. Peter Gallagher’s time was 20.48 and
Eimear Gormley’s was 23.02. Jimmy McBride clocked 24.06, Aaron Bonner 24.31 and leading F40 finisher Marion Kerr 24.53.
In Monday evening’s Kernan’s Spar Relay for Life 5K in Rathmullen, Danny Mooney was first across the line in 17.05. Oisin Scanlon clocked 25.33 and Niamh McDaid 26.56.
Several LAC runners were involved in long distance events in Ireland on Sunday, which were held 500 KM apart. Marathon specialist, Ciaran McGonagle, had another superlative run to come home in 10th position in the Cork City Marathon. He had an excellent time of 2.37.17, which meant he averaged sub 6 minutes/mile for the 26.2 mile race. The race was won by another prolific marathoner who is also in the M40 category, Gary O’Hanlon, whose time was 2.21.07.
Kevin Greenan won the M60 category in the Cork half marathon in a time of 1.45.02. The overall winner was Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe Harriers in 1.07.57.
Further north, Peter Hamilton was the first of the Letterkenny AC contingent to cross the line in the Walled City Marathon in Derry. He had an excellent time of 3.26.13. Shortly behind Peter was Kieran Coyle in 3.28.42. Adrian Callaghan ran 3.50.42, while pushing his 2 young children in a double buggy. Frank Pinder had a fine run, and finished in 4.07.22. Dan Tanui of Project Africa was the race winner in 2.19.44.
Liam Ferry continued his consistent form in the Letterkenny parkrun. He had another sub 20 minute performance of 19.53 and finished 3rd. Paul Lee was 5th, and the leading M50 runner, in a time of 21.08. Cathal Roarty, now just 1 event away from his 40th parkrun, clocked 24.05. The first runner home was Philip O’Hare in 19.30. Richard Raymond, while visiting family in his native Kerry town of Tralee the previous week, ran 22.43 for the parkrun there. He was 2nd in the M60 category.
Hugh Gallagher.
Letterkenny AC PRO.
