The new cross country season entered its second week on Sunday.
There were several outstanding performances by LAC runners in the Donegal Novice Cross Country Championship in the beautiful environs of Mullaghderg in west Donegal.
Eimear Wiseman was the leading LAC runner in the women’s race in a time of 12.18. Eimear Gormley was next in 13.43, followed by Fin Begley in 14.38. Natasha Kelly, Finn Valley AC, was first across the line in 11.35.
In the men’s race, Philip McHugh had a top 10 finish in 21.38. Kevin McGee clocked 22.02, Michael Galvin 24.05 and Mark McFadden 25.31. Finn Valley AC’s John McFadden won the race in 20.37.
Letterkenny AC’s annual New Mills 10K was held on Sunday. 2 of the top 3 finishers were LAC runners. Danny Mooney was 2nd in 34.05, with new club captain, Eoghain McGinley, just 6 seconds behind. The race winner was Finn Valley AC’s Patrick Brennan, in 33.53.
Letterkenny Athletic Club is grateful to Divers’ Hyundai for their continued and generous sponsorship of the New Mills 10K. The club also appreciates the hard work and commitment of the stewards and other volunteers who helped to make the race a success.
Paddy Ward had a fine run on Saturday in the Ceide Coast 10K in Co Mayo. Paddy, who has been in intensive training for the Dublin Marathon, was first in the M60 category in a time of 41.28. He was 4th overall in the race. Dan Charlton won the race in 37.32.
Paddy described the course as “the toughest I have ever run.” This year’s Dublin Marathon will be Paddy’s first Marathon since the early 1980s, when he recorded a PB of 2.39.39.
Darren Beecroft had an excellent time of 3.20.43 in the Chicago Marathon. His run was a model of even-paced running. His first half was run in 1.40.21 and the 2nd half in 1.40.22. Like club mate, Ciaran McGonagle, Darren has now run in 4 of the ‘Big 5’ Marathons. He had previously run the Marathons in New York, Berlin and London.
The only one of the 5 iconic Marathons that Darren has not run is the Boston Marathon and he is hopeful of completing the quintet.
The Chicago Marathon witnessed a new women’s world record. Kenyan Brigid Kosgei ran a time of 2.14.04, which took 81 seconds off Paula Radcliffe’s time, which had been the record for more than 16 years. The top 3 men all crossed the line within 3 seconds of each other.
Lawrence Cherono, also a Kenyan, was the winner in 2.05.45. From an Irish perspective, the main interest was in Fionnuala McCormack. She was the 5th woman, in a PB time of 2.26.47.
She took more than 4 minutes off her existing PB; this time is the 2nd fastest ever run by an Irish woman in a Marathon. She clinched a place in the Marathon at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The leading LAC runner in Saturday morning’s Letterkenny Parkrun was Anthony Farren, who was first in the M50 category in 22.52.
Cathal Roarty, running in his 76th Parkrun, clocked 23.25 and was the first M55 runner. Dara Dunne was the first W50 finisher in 24.32. Peter Gallagher’s time was 25.20. The first runner across the line was William Brown, Ballydrain Harriers, in 19.11.
Nakita Burke was rewarded during the week for her recent impressive return to form after being sidelined through injury. She was selected as part of the Northern Ireland and Ulster team for the Leeds Abbey Dash 10K.
The event takes place on October 27th and Nakita is one of 8 athletes from Ulster who have been selected.
The club held a successful, well attended AGM in the Station House Hotel recently. One of the items on the agenda was the election of a new Officer Board and Committee for the coming year.
The following were elected:
CHAIRPERSON, Aidan McKenna
VICE CHAIR, Michael Galvin
SECRETARY, John Hughes
ASSISTANT SECRETARY, Kathryn McDevitt
TREASURER, Eunan Kelly
ASSISTANT TREASURER, Danny McDaid
SENIOR REGISTRAR, Paul Lee
JUVENILE REGISTRAR, Grit McGee
SENIOR PRO, Hugh Gallagher
JUVENILE PRO, Tina Page
CAPTAIN, Eoghain McGinley
VICE CAPTAIN, Danny Mooney
FEMALE CAPTAIN, Monica McGranaghan
CHILDREN’ LIAISON OFFICER, Kathryn McDevitt
JUVENILE COACH REP, Aidan Smith
COMMITTEE, Raymond Birch, Ciaran McGonagle, Brendan McDaid, Denis Shields, Teresa McDaid, Liam Ferry, Patricia McKenna, Jarlaith Duffy.
Letterkenny Athletic Club wishes to express sincere condolences to Monica McGranaghan and her family, following the recent death of her father, Horace.
Horace Friel, R.I.P.
