Several Letterkenny Athletic Club runners travelled to Dublin on Sunday for the Athletics Ireland National 10K Championship, which is subsumed within the Great Ireland run.
The journey was worthwhile, with top performances all round and the club emerging with team and individual medals.
The men’s team took bronze medals. 1500m specialist Danny Mooney showed his versatility in recording a time of 31.35, one of his best 10K times. Eoghan McGinley had an excellent time of 32.27. Another man showing his versatility was Darren McBrearty. He is better known as a 800m runner but had a strong showing, finishing in 33.51. Ivan Toner finished in 34.22 to complete the scoring quartet.
Only Dublin clubs, Raheny Shamrock and Clonliffe Harriers were ahead, leaving LAC with bronze medals. Anthony Doherty, competing in his first national event, crossed the line in 34.37. Aidan McKenna’s time was 40.34. Fionnuala Diver continued her good form and her time of 38.26 also put her in the medals. She was 3rd in the F35 category.
There were some outstanding performances and PBs from LAC runners in Sunday’s Convoy 10K. Paul McGlinchey showed that he has made a full recovery from injury with an excellent time of 34.44, which gave him 7th place. The race winner was Foyle Valley AC’s Keith Shiels in 32.49. Raymond Birch’s good form continued and he came home in 35.21. Ciaran McGonagle clocked 36.28, Paul McFadden 37.01 and Martin Devenney 37.39, with Martin and Paul both claiming PBs of more than a minute. The winner of the women’s race was in-form Monica McGranaghan, with yet another PB, 40.20. This took 20 seconds off her previous best.
John Hughes came home in 40.41, which was a PB. Fellow LAC M50, Barry Mackey, finished in 41.38. Adrian Callaghan’s time was 42.10. Peter Gallagher’s time of 42.42 was a PB. Marian Kerr finished in 46.40. This represented a PB for Marian. Philip Connolly finished in 51.36.
Letterkenny Athletic Club runners totally dominated Thursday evening’s Swilly Seals 5K. First across the line, in 16.48, was Ciaran McGonagle. Marathon specialist Ciaran demonstrated his versatility with his win.
Next was M40 Sean McFadden in 17.04 followed by Paul Toner who clocked 18.21. Maria Mulligan continued her recent excellent form. The talented 200m sprinter showed her versatility again and was the first woman in 18.30. Just 1 second behind was another LAC woman in top form, Nakita Burke, who re-captured her scintillating Autumn cross country form. Paul McBride clocked 18.35, which meant that the first 6 home were all LAC runners.
Michael Galvin’s time of 19.08 gave him a top 10 finish. Colly O’Donnell clocked 19.38 and Barry Mackey’s success continued with his time of 19.55 giving him another M50 first place.
Talented junior, Billy Black’s time of 21.03 showed that the future of the club is in secure hands. Fellow LAC junior, Ciaran Coyle, clocked 22.48, Cliodhna Dunne finished in 23.02 and junior, Chloe Shiels, 23.47.
Darci Crossan came home in 24.45. Young Ruari McFadden finished in 24.47 to show that he intends to follow in the footsteps (running shoes?) of his highly successful parents, Irene and Shaun. M60 athlete, Jimmy Gildea, a long serving and loyal, dedicated LAC member had a fine run as did Ben Coyle.
The Swilly Seals committee would like to thank the following people/businesses for sponsoring all the prizes in the 5K:
Dervla Cassidy
Brian McCormick Sports
Elvery’s Sports
Michael Murphy Sports
House Winebar @ Voodoo Venue
Sean Sweeney- Premier Embroidery
Joe Morgan
McGinley Motors.
Adrian Callaghan achieved a top 10 finish on Saturday in Callum’s Run 5K. Adrian ran 23.25 in a race won by Keith Shiels, of Foyle Valley AC, in 16.32.
Diarmaid Doherty completed his first Letterkenny parkrun in a time of 27.08. He was 3rd in the M40-44 category. First across the line was Darren Winston in 20.44.
On Easter Sunday, April 16th, Letterkenny AC will be hosting its annual 3K/5K Fun Run and Walk. Registration is at Letterkenny Community Centre, Pearse Road from 10.00 am. The race, which starts at 11.15 am, follows a flat, fast accurate course. The club is grateful to ‘Harte Insurances’ for sponsoring the event.
