Letterkenny Athletic Club enjoyed both indivudual and team success in Sunday morning’s Brian McCormick Sports & Leisure Donegal 5K, which took place in a wet and windy Ballybofey. The race winner was Eoghan McGinley who clocked 16.00. Danny Mooney was 4th in 16.18, followed by Ciaran McGonagle who was 2nd in the M40 category in 16.22. Young Eoin Hughes clocked 16.46 and Ivan Toner 16.53. They both achieved top 10 finishes. David Smith’s time was 17.22. Kevin McGee came home in 18.06. The LAC team took first place in the Senior Men’s team event.
Martin Gormley’s time of 18.22 gave him 2nd place in the M50 category. Barry Mackey finished in 19.36 and John Hughes in 19.56. Martin, Barry and John combined to give LAC first place in the M50 team event.
Aidan McKenna travelled to Newcastle to run in the Great North Run. This half marathon, which started in 1981, is one of the world’s most iconic road races. Aidan’s time was 1.28.19 and he was 76th, out of over 2000, in the M45-49 category. This placed him comfortably inside the top 4% in his category. He was 11th out of the large number of 175 Irish finishers. Mo Farah won the race in 1.00.06. The phenomenal nature of that pace is put into perspective with the realisation that it is 4m35s for each of the 13.1 miles or 2m51s for each of the 21.1 kilometres.
James McBride ran 24.31 in Saturday morning’s Letterkenny parkrun. He was 12th overall and 1st in the M65-69 category. Ruth McCrudden was 1st in the W50-54 group in a time of 27.19. Mark McFadden completed the course with his young son, Eoghan. First across the line was Cian Friel in 21.02.
The winning numbers in the LAC lotto on September 7th were 13,15, 21 and 24. There were no Match 4 winners. Two Match 2 winners won €20. They were Tina Birch and Mary Crossan.
Louise Finnegan is organising an event well worth supporting. The ‘Leo Finnegan Memorial Run’ is a 3K Walk and 5K Charity Run, on Wednesday September 27th. It starts at 7.00pm from Diver’s Hyundai Garage, Canal Road, Letterkenny. Registration is at the garage from 6.00pm. The race is in memory of Leo, Louise’s husband, who died last year. The last 52 days of his life were spent – to use Louise’s own words- “in the haven that is The Donegal Hospice.” Tea and refreshments will be available at the garage after the run/walk. There is no entry fee. Instead, participants are asked to make a donation, which will go to the Donegal Hospice. It is hoped that as many people as possible will support this event in Leo’s memory.
Letterkenny AC wishes to express condolences to club athlete Noreen McGettigan and her family, following the recent death of her father, Michael.
Michael McConigley, R.I.P.
Hugh Gallagher
LAC PRO.
