Record Numbers expected for the last race of the Daly’s XL 3 Race 5K Series

The final race of the Daly’s XL 3 Race 5K Series will be held in Lifford this Sunday, January 31.  

Hosted by Lifford-Strabane AC, the Series has already attracted record numbers to the first two events in Carrigans and Raphoe, and a crowd of up to 400 is expected for the finale in Lifford on Sunday.

The Series has provided the ideal opportunity for early season running, from the serious athlete through to the recreational jogger and walker.  

At the leading end of the events, Foyle Valley athlete Keith Shiels ran 15:52 in Carrigans, with Finn Valley athlete Mark Hoy (pictured above by Kieran Carlin) running the same time to take victory in Raphoe two weeks ago.  Letterkenny AC’s Masters international athlete Natasha Adams was victorious in Raphoe, while City of Derry’s Amy McDaid leads the way on the points table following her victory in Carrigans and second placed finish in Raphoe.  

With the Lifford course traditionally one of the fastest around, personal bests or good early season times will be the order of the day on Sunday.  To emphasise the all inclusive nature of the Series, 413 unique athletes from 38 different clubs have taken part to date, the youngest competitor just six and the oldest over 70.  

The Series awards points at each event across a range of race categories from Under-16 through to the Masters Over 60 category.  The Senior mens event is a close run affair, with Derry Track Club’s Martin Cox leading the way on 30 points, with Carmen Runners athlete Ciaran Collins just two points adrift going into the last race in Lifford.  

In the Senior womens category, barring an upset on Sunday, Derry Track Club’s Amy McDaid should collect the perpetual shield with Foyle Valley’s Annalisa Mullan and Dympna Houston battling it out for second and third.

In the Masters categories, Deirdre Haigney, Ita Kelly, Marie Gibson, Elizabeth Curran, and Marjan Bangert all of have maximum points in their respective categories.  In the Junior Womens category, Ellie Green leads Kathleen Craig by two points, while in the Under 16’s, Harriet McCrossan has maximum points.

In the Masters men category, Foyle Valley’s Terry Murphy has maximum points in the Over 40, Derry Track Club’s Cathal McLaughlin leads the way in the Over 45, while Martin Dunleavy, Robert Bigger, Brendan Montague and Sam Cole all of have maximum points in their categories.  In the Junior mens category, Finn Valley duo Oisin Gallen and Bryan McNamee are joint top.

Registration will be open in Lifford from 8:45am on Sunday with the race due to start at 10.30am sharp.  For further details, contact Brendan O’Donnell on 086 6007847 or visit the Lifford Strabane AC 5K Spring Series Facebook page.