When all the figures had been collated following last Sunday’s VHI women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin, there was further good news for LAC’s 3 competitors. It was already known that Nakita Burke and Catriona Jennings had scooped finishing places in the top 10 in a very competitive race, with Nakita gaining the bonus of a new PB. It was also known that Monica McGranaghan had acquired a PB. However, it emerged on the Mondaythat the 3 LAC ladies also comprised the 2nd team, so secured silver medals. Congratulations to the 3 hard working athletes, as the club continues to go from strength to strength on the national stage.
Barry Mackey was the sole LAC runner in Tuesday evening’s Aurivo 5K in Killygordon. Barry turned in another impressive performance and ran sub 19 minutes again, in a time of 18.58. Finn Valley’s Dermot McElchar was the race winner in 16.00.
Several LAC runners were in action in Letterkenny on Thursday evening in the Ballyraine National School 5K. Michael Galvin was the leading LAC runner, in a time of 19.04, which gave him 1st place in the M40 category. Monica Granaghan, just 4 days after her medal winning heroics in Dublin, was the 2nd woman and the leading F40 runner in 19.37. John Hughes was the second runner in the M50 category. His time of 20.03 was just 1 second adrift of the M50 winner. The next M50 finisher was Paul Lee in 20.15. Young Charlie Robinson was the first Male Junior in an excellent time of 20.42.
Stephen Shiels clocked 20.52 and Darren Beecroft 21.11. Niamh McDaid had a fine run and her time of 21.20 gave her 2nd place in the Female Open category. Noel Lynch finished in 21.23. Catherine McKinley was 3rd senior woman in 21.25. Pauric Dunleavy crossed the line in 21.38, Jack Robinson in 22.34, Anthony Farren in 22.50 and Gerard Callaghan in 23.26. Dara Dunne won the F50 category in 23.42. Danny McKinley finished in 26.17. Irene McFadden eased round and is preparing for knee surgery soon.
The race winner was Michael Black, 24/7 Triathlon Club, in 16.28.
Niamh Kelly had an excellent run in the Northern Ireland Championships at the Mary Peters Track in Belfast at the weekend. She was 5th in the 5000m in a very good time of 18.12. The winner was Jessica Craig, of North Down AC, who ran 17.12.
John Hughes had a good performance in Sunday’s St Eugene’s Primary School 10K in Tircur, near Omagh. He was the 2nd M50 runner in 42.29. John was delighted not only with his time but with the novel post race refreshment, which was ice cream for all runners, giving a whole new meaning to the term ‘post race cool down.’ The race winner was Eoin Mullan, of Omagh Harriers, in 35.04.
Liam Ferry was 11th overall in Saturday’s Donegal Airport Runway 5K. His time was 19.24. First runner across the line was Shane O’Donnell in 17.33.
Paul Lee ran 23.20 in Saturday morning’s Letterkenny parkrun, which gave him a top 10 finish overall and 1st place in the M50 category. Noel Lynch was the next M50 finisher in 23.30. Cathal Roarty marked his parkrun number 40 by finishing as 3rd M50 in 24.30. James McBride was the leading M65 runner in 24.50.
Hugh Gallagher.
Letterkenny Athletic Club PRO.
