Local and international success for LAC as summer season heats up

Here are the LAC Club Notes, after another busy week on the local and international athletics scene, with action in five races as the summer season gets underway.

ATU Donegal 5K

The summer athletics season kicked off with an impressive showing from Letterkenny AC at the annual ATU Donegal’s 5k on Tuesday evening. Letterkenny AC took top honours as Danny Mooney lead the field home in a time of 15 minutes and 40 seconds. Mooney was joined on the podium by club captain, Phillip McHugh in 3rd place with a time of 16:31, while ultra endurance athlete Ciaran “Crazy” McGonagle followed closely in 16:53. For Ciaran, this race was a mere warm up, only 95km short of his usual 100km race distance.

The middle pack saw a thrilling contest, Eamonn McEldowney (19:29) lead the way, with just two seconds separating Paul McMonagle (19:41) Mark O’Donnell (19:42) and Paul Toner (19:43). There were notable performances from Adrian Callaghan 20:15, Colly O’Donnell 20:28, P McMenamin 20:35, Ray McDermott 21:34, David McFadden 22:16, Flynn Mulligan 22:35, Garvan Mulligan 23:00, Frank Pinder 23:21, Conor McDaid 24:16 & Colm Rafferty 24:22, Dara Dunne 24:41all delivering solid performances under the 25-minute barrier.

Irene McFaden and Denis Shields provided excitement with a photo finish, both recording identical times of 25:01. Letterkenny AC was well represented through the field by Mairead Cullen 25:40, Mike Bell 25:53, Dean Murray 25:54, Ciara McFadden 25:54, Doireann Ni Riain 26:27, Linda Cronin 27:38, Mary Higgins 29:15, Noreen Sharkey 29:21, Molly Shields 29:23, Noelle Lynch 30:55, Noreen Pinder 33:43, Angela McGee 38:45, Alice Bustard 44:35, Margaret Coyle 50:38 & Jade Gray 54:58.

Gaelscoil Adhamhnain 5k

Cian Friel rewrote his own record books at the Gaelscoil Adhamhnain 5k, claiming victory and shaving 15 second off his previous personal best in a time of 17 minutes and 24 seconds. Frank Pinder showed remarkable endurance, completing his second 5k in consecutive nights with a time of 23:19. Robert Tshimbudzi took a break from London marathon preparations, completing the 5k in 32:02. Gary Price (24:18) and Kerry Gallagher (39:48) rounded out the club’s representation with impressive performances in the 5k. Ciaran McGonagle couldn’t stay away, this time toeing the line in the 3k, finishing in 14:26.

St Patricks N.S 5k

The flat, out and back route of the St Patricks N.S annual 5k in Drumkeen saw Patrick Brennan shake off last week’s half marathon fatigue with an impressive time of 18:57.

Omagh Half Marathon

Sunday the 6th of April, seen the 35th running of the Omagh ½ marathon. Ciaran McGonagle, in his third race of the week, secured a top 10 finish with a time of 1:13:34. Ciaran was spotted asking the race director if there were any other races happening later that evening! In a highly competitive field, Michael Black followed closely in 1:14:40. Clare McGuigan delivered a phenomenal performance, claiming a place on the podium, finishing 3rd overall in a time of 1:19:32.

The rivalry between Marie Boyle and husband Gary Kearns continued. Marie crossed the line in 1:39:04, putting 50 seconds between herself and Gary (1:39:55), evening up their head-to-head score at one victory each.
Graeme Michie 1:43:59, Mark McFadden 1:54:38 & Alicia McNulty 1:54:39 all comfortably broke the 2hour mark. There were strong finishes from Diane Bustard 2:01:55, Caroline McGonagle 2:03:04 & Caoimhe Rooney 2:09:30, completing the notoriously undulating half marathon course just outside the 2-hour mark.

Berlin Half Marathon
From Omagh to Berlin. Letterkenny AC’s Sean McFadden was in the German capital for the prestigious Berlin Half Marathon. One of the fastest courses on the global calendar, McFadden finished with a respectable time of 1 hour 44 minutes and 40 seconds, passing through the iconic Brandenburg gates on a day when the winning time was an incredible 58:43.

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