Finn Valley AC is gearing up for a busy period of schools and children’s athletics.
The Patsy McGonagle Track will be a hive of activity over the coming weeks with thousands set to descend on the Millbrae.
The 52nd annual Primary Schools Athletics Challenge finals will take place at Finn Valley AC on May 17.
A programme of events has been set out and circulated to schools.
These Championships have been integral in Finn Valley AC’s engagement with schools and the community since the early 70s.
Many of our finest athletes have been sourced from initial competition at the Schools Athletics. The local area sports take place on May 3 and 4.
A special needs race will feature as part of this year’s finals.
The Donegal Children’s Games will also be held at Finn Valley, taking place on Sunday-week, April 23.
Riona Doherty (pictured) returned to action and it was a winning comeback for the Finn Valley AC woman, who took victory in her 100m event at the Mary Peters Track. Riona is off the back of a period out with an injury and showed her class as she took to the blocks again.
Adam Breen won the long jump and took second in the 60m at the same meet.
Jon-Joe Doherty was second in the Hale Merseyside Five Mile at the weekend. Jon-Joe finished in 25:47, beaten only by promising teenager Liam McCay, whose family are originally from Derry.
A dozen Finn Valley AC athletes and their coaches are in Portugal for warm weather training this week. This block of work will be invaluable across the coming months.
Eugene Merritt of Finn Valley AC was fourth in the 10 Mile event at the Ballyliffin Coastal Challenge on Saturday, clocking 1:02:23.
There is a strong Finn Valley AC touch to this popular annual event with some proceeds this year to be handed over to St Columbcille’s Village in Clonmany. The date has already been pencilled in for next year’s event so put March 30, 2024 in your diaries!