This week saw Letterkenny AC represented on the international stage as head coach Teresa McDaid took charge of Team Ireland at the European Athletics Indoor Championships.
Teresa swapped Aura athletic track for her familiar role as Senior Team Manager, overseeing a fantastic championship, which saw team Ireland return home with one Gold and two bronze medals at the event held in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.
Closer to home, the National Masters Indoor Championships took place in Dublin’s National indoor arena. Letterkenny’s Danny Sharkey delivered a stellar performance securing a gold medal in the M65 3000 metre walk. Sharkey won the gold medal in a time of 21 minutes and 51 seconds. While in the Men’s over 70 competition, Brian McBride took an impressive silver medal in the 1500m, completing the 7 and a half laps in a time of 6 minutes 41.33 seconds, behind Martin Kelly of Menapians A.C.
Continuing the trend of long-distance running, many LAC members completed the walled City 10 miler in Derry. Michael Harkin led the charge for Letterkenny, crossing the line in 1 hour, 1 minute and 3 seconds. Harkin was followed over the Foyle bridge by Darren Price 1.04.38, Mark Nee 1.08.52, Sinead Ward 1.12.27, Adrian Callaghan 1.12.53 & Derek Cambell 1.13.39. The tightest contest of the day saw Gary Kearns (1.14.59) battle hard to stay seconds ahead of his wife Marie Boyle, who finished in a fantastic 1.15.09.
The challenging, windy course saw numerous impressive performances from Letterkenny AC athletes, including Robert Kavanagh 1.15.22, Peter Gallagher 1.17.30, Michael Mooney 1.19.21, Paul Lee 1.20.39, Ray McDermott 1.22.37, Liam Wiseman 1.25.14, Christopher McMenamin 1.26.25, Frank Pinder 1.26.42, Conor McDaid 1.31.49, Marina Boyle 1.35.36, Louise McKeague 1.37.23, Roisin McDevitt 1.37.48, Stella McCole 1.40.12, Martin O’Donell 1.43.00, Caroline McGonagle 1.44.34, Caoimhe Rooney Friel 1.44.35
The Letterkenny Athletic Club committee would like to extend an invitation to all members, past and present to discuss the plans for the new clubhouse. All members are encouraged to attend one of the three meetings; Tuesday (11th March) & Thursday (20th March) from 6-7pm and Saturday (22nd March) 1-2pm. All meetings will take place in Aura Leisure Centre.