Nakita Burke superlative form continued during the week when she put on a splendid performance in the Armagh 3K.
She was running for the Irish International team in the 3K in the Armagh International Road Race. She clocked 9.33 for a top 20 finish in a race full of the most talented Irish and British runners.
This represented yet another personal best for Nakita. She helped her four women Irish team to 3rd place in the International race. Nakita was the Irish team’s leading runner.
LAC club coach, Teresa McDaid, was the Irish team manager. The race winner was Aldershot & Farnham AC’s Steph Twell in 8.59.
The Armagh men’s International 5K enhanced its reputation as Europe’s top 5K. An amazing 113 runners recorded times of under 15 minutes; a further 85 were sub 16. The race winner was Topi Raitanen, from Finland, in a very fast time of 13.43.
Over 1000 runners came out in support of Paul Dillon of Lifford/Strabane AC on Saturday. Paul, or ‘Diddler’ as he is affectionately known, is a well-known butcher and runner in Newton Cunningham.
He was recently diagnosed with an illness which will require major modifications to his home. A large number turned out for the fundraising 5K through Newton Cunningham.
On a day like this, the cause was more important than the result. However, there were some excellent performances.
Track specialist, Danny Mooney, was first across the line in 16.14 and he was followed by fellow LAC man, Eoin Hughes, who celebrated his 20th Birthday in style when he finished in 16.36.
Gerard McGranaghan’s time of 17.39 gave him a top 10 finish. Next was Raymond Birch in 18.01.
Nakita Burke showed her powers of recovery; less than 48 hours after her heroics in Armagh, she was in action again and clocked 18.22 to finish as the first woman. Paul Toner and Mark Nee both clocked 19.17.
Dessie Shiels finished in 19.34. Monica McGranaghan’s time of 19.35 gave her 2nd place in the women’s race.
Michael Galvin came home in 19.33, Paul McMonagle in 20.00, Mark McFadden in 20.29, Peter Gallagher in 20.33, Peter Hamilton 20.36, Ciaran O’Donnell in 20.40, Darren Beecroft in 20.52, Paul Lee in 20.53, Marie Boyle in 20.54 and Seamus Morrison in 20.57.
Stephen Shiels clocked 21.12, Eimear Wiseman 21.15, Gary Price 21.20, Barry Mackey 21.30, Naoise Enright 22.01, Ciaran Liddy 22.09, Adrian Callaghan 22.16, Gary Kearns 22.22 and Niamh McDaid 22.29.
Richard Raymond ran well. His time of 22.52 was excellent as he has had to contend with a troublesome hamstring injury since early January.
Noel Lynch’s time was also 22.52 and Gerard Mullan’s was 22.55. Pat McKenna crossed the line in 24.05, Caroline McGonagle in 26.46 and Andrea Killoran in 27.03.
Former club member, Mark English, enjoyed 2 excellent indoor track performances. On Wednesday, he won the 800m at Athlone IT in 1.46.92.
At the weekend, he won his 6th National Senior Indoor title in Abbottstown. He won the 800m at the 2019 Indoor Championships. Mark’s time was 1.51.77.
Anthony Farren was the leading LAC runner in Saturday’s Letterkenny Parkrun. He was 14th overall and 4th in the M50 category in 23.55. Cathal Roarty was the next M50 runner in 24.04.
Dara Dunne was the 3rd woman and the leading F50 runner in 24.14. It was the 5th time that Dara had run and this was her best time to date.
Letterkenny Athletic Club would like to offer best wishes to club member, Philip Connelly. Philip was recently in hospital and is now on his way to recovery.
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