Two Letterkenny Athletic Club runners competed in the Lifford AC 5K on Wednesday.
It was one of the highest quality 5Ks of the summer so far and both LAC men turned in excellent performances. In-form Conor Gallagher took a mammoth 22 seconds (more than 2%) off his existing road 5K PB.
Conor’s time of 15.35 gave him 5th place in a race won by an African athlete, Wilson Kipsong, in a very fast time of 14.42. Ivan Toner was 4th in a highly competitive M40 category in 16.34.
Raymond Birch was the first LAC runner home in Friday evening’s Rathmullen Festival 5K. Raymond was 6th overall and 2nd in the M40 category in a time of 16.06.
He was less than 1 second behind M40 winner, Kieran Scullion. Just behind Raymond was Adam Friel in 16.09. Gerard McGranaghan had an excellent sub 17 minute time of 16.57.
Brian Thursby-Pelham was a welcome visitor back from England and he finished in 17.22. Dessie Shiels’ excellent recent form continued and he finished in 18.24.
Barry Mackey, a familiar sight throughout Donegal, was the 2nd M55 finisher in 18.33. Monica McGranaghan was the 2nd woman in 18.36; Teresa Doherty, Finn Valley AC, was the winner in 16.27. Liam Ferry clocked 18.47 and Peter Gallagher 19.59.
Brendan Delap had an excellent run and won the M65 category in 20.54. Adrian Callaghan’s time was 22.25. The race winner was Foyle Valley AC’s Chris McGuinness in 15.26.
Track specialist Kathryn McDevitt was on the podium again, this time in Saturday’s FPSG Scottish Masters’ Championships in the Central Scottish town of Grangemouth.
She won bronze at W35 in the 100m sprint in 13.98 secs. She also ran in the 200m and her time of 28.49 secs gave her a PB and 4th place. She was just a half second away from another medal.
Father and son duo, Eoin and John Hughes ran in Sunday’s Dunleer 4 mile race in Co Louth. Both had fine runs in very warm conditions. Eoin was 6th in 22.18; John’s time was 27.29. John was 6th in a highly competitive M50 category. The race winner was African, Gideon Kimosop, in 19.24.
Closer to home on Sunday, Ciaran Doherty illustrated his versatility. He had recently excelled at 5Ks but he moved to the much longer half marathon distance and won the Magee 1866 Atlantic Way Half Marathon in a time of 1.14.47. Ciaran had in excess of 2 minutes to spare over Gary Scully, who was 2nd.
There were 409 finishers in the race. Over 100 runners completed the Marathon, which was won by Adrian Scullion, Knockmany, in 2.47.38.
Noel Lynch was the leading LAC runner in Saturday’s Letterkenny Parkrun. His time of 23.34 gave him 3rd place in the M50 category. First across the line was Philip O’Hare in 19.21.
Paul Lee showed that he is back in good form following a recent back injury. He clocked 21.15 in the Dungloe Parkrun, which was the fastest M50 time. First runner home was Dromore AC’s Michael McLernon in 18.27.
Letterkenny Athletic Club’s annual and very popular Danny McDaid 15K Race will be held on Sunday, July 21st.
The rarely run distance is ideal preparation for those doing longer races later in the Summer and in Autumn, such as the Donegal Half Marathon and the Dublin City Marathon.
The race starts at 11.30am and the entry fee is €15. A technical T-shirt is available to the first 300 entrants.
There is an extensive prize list. Registration, Changing, Presentation and Refreshments will all be at Aura Leisure Centre. Letterkenny Athletic Club is grateful to the Station House Hotel for their continued and generous sponsorship of the event.
