Lifford-Strabane AC: The big news of the week was the huge success of our juvenile athletes who travelled alongside their families and club coaches to the All-Ireland National Juvenile Championships which took place in Tullamore, Co. Offaly over the weekend.                                    Â
A total of 26 Lifford Strabane AC juvenile athletes, competed against the best of what Ireland had to offer in 44 events over the course of the 2 day competition, which saw an accumulation of 12 All Ireland National Medals in total being lifted – 5 Golds, 6 Silvers & 1 Bronze with many of our athletes narrowly missing out on a medal.
 Picture caption: Masters Athlete Mark Doherty winning 3 Silver medals at the NI Masters & 10,000m Championships
In the Boys U14 Hammer, Cormac O’Donnell Gold with a throw of 36.77M. Aine Marie Mc Bride took Gold throwing 42.51M & Adrienne Gallen Silver with a throw of 42.18M in the Girls U14 Hammer. All 3 athletes coached by John O’Donnell.
In the U12 Girls High Jump, Ashleigh McArdle Gold with a jump of 1.38M. Ashleigh is coached by Brendan O’Donnell.
In the Boys U15 Hammer, Jude McCrossan Gold with a throw of 48.96M. In the same competition throwing a personal best Ross Henderson took Silver with a throw of 48.46. Both boys coached by John O’Donnell.
Una O’Donnell took Silver in the Girls U13 Shot Putt in 9.83M. Una is coached by Sharon Gallen Foley.
In the Boys U19 800M, Alan McGinley was piped at the finish line to place 2nd overall to take the Silver medal in 1min 57seconds.
Niall Elliot ran 2:03, Brandon McGrinder ran a personal best in 2:04 in the heats of the Boys U19 800M both lads narrowly missing out on qualifying to make the final.
It was the same story for young Charlie McElwaine. Charlie placed 5th overall in the heat of the Boys U18 800M, just missing out on a place in the final. All athletes coached by Michael McKinney.
Olivia Cuskelly, coached by John O’Donnell took Bronze in the Girls U16 Hammer with a throw of 42.31M
In the U13 Girls Javelin, throwing a personal best of 29.95M & placing 2nd overall to take Silver was Ellie McCurdy. Ellie is coached by Damien Crawford.
Gareth Crawford, coached by his Dad & club coach Damien Crawford took Gold in the U19 Boys Javelin with a throw of 57.32M.
In the Girls U13 80M, placing 2nd overall for Silver was Harriet McCrossan.
On Sat 8th July at the NI Masters & 10,000m Championships, Mary Peters Track, Belfast. Lifford Strabane AC Masters Athlete Mark Doherty won 3 Silver medals in the Shot Putt, Weight for Distance & Javelin.
Earlier in the week on Wed 5th July, at the Belfast International Athlete Meet, Mary Peters Track, Belfast. Lifford Strabane AC had two athletes in action. Alan McGinley took Gold in the Men’s Domestic 800M with an outstanding run.
McGinley led from the onset, running his best race of the season to date with a personal best in the time of 1min 56:44seconds. Alan is coached by Michael McKinney.
At the same venue High Jumper Shannon Craig, coached by John O’Donnell placed 5th overall in the Women’s High Jump in an extremely top quality field with a jump of 1.65M.
Great results from our Track & Field athletes & coaches. Well done to all.
We also had athletes in action at a few road races. At the Raphoe Family Resource Centre 5K on Tues 4th July, 15 Lifford Strabane AC athletes took to the start line. Senior Male club athlete Paul Dillion placing 4th overall in a fantastic time of 18:19 & 1st in M40+ Category. Geoff Sproule was 2nd senior male athlete to finish for the club running a personal best in 19:02PB. Michael Duncan 3rd club finisher, 2nd M50+ Category in a time of 19:28.
Roisin McGinley was 1st Senior Female club finisher in a great time of 23:22 7 2nd F50+ Category, Caroline Dillion was next female club finisher in 28:49 & 3rd was Jacqueline Neeson in 29:06.
On Fri 7th July at the First Steps, Killen 5K, the race was won by Lifford Strabane AC athlete Geoff Sproule running a personal best in a super time of 19:01PB. Michael Duncan placed 3rd in a time of 19:33 at the same race.
Well done to all who competed over the course of the week. Congratulations to all athletes that ran personal bests, category winners & to the medal recipients at the Track & Field events.
Date for your diaries: Lifford Strabane AC 5k Road Race, Wednesday 12th July, at 7:30pm. Chip Timing. Refreshments & Prize giving afterwards in the club rooms.
Lifford Strabane AC caters for all abilities.
