Two Letterkenny Athletic Club runners travelled to Dublin on Sunday for the Spar Autumn Cross Country, which was held at Abbotstown.
The race was a trial race to select the Irish team to compete in the five Nations’ Masters’ Cross Country International.
This will be held in Southport, NW England in the middle of November.
Natasha Adams clinched a place on the Irish F35 team, with excellent performance. Her time was 22.21 for the 6K course. She was second, with only Finn Valley AC’s Teresa Doherty ahead of her.
Barry Mackey also had a fine run in what was an ultra-competitive race. It was won by Tommy Hughes, who, despite being just 3 months short of his 60th Birthday, is one of the world’s outstanding M55 runners.
Barry ran well and his time of 30.46 for 7.5KM gave him a highly creditable 8th place.
In the Open Races, the 2 Kellys, Eoin and Niamh, put on very good performances. Eoin was 39th in a time of 27.11. City of Derry Spartans’ runner, Conor Bradley, won the race in a very fast time of 22.55.
In the senior women’s race, Niamh Kelly was 20th in 23.15. English athlete, Abbie Donnelly, was the winner in 20.52.
Eoin Hughes and Philip McHugh had excellent runs in very tough, muddy conditions on an undulating course in Saturday’s Comber Cup in Northern Ireland.
This race was organised by Ballydrain Harriers at the Billy Neill Centre, Dundonald. Eoin was 12th in a very competitive race. His time for the 5-mile course was 30.20. Philip was close behind, crossing the line in 32.18. The race winner was Mark McKinstry in 27.58.
Cathal Roarty was the first Letterkenny runner across the line in the Letterkenny Parkrun on Saturday morning. Cathal’s time, in his 77th Parkrun, was 23.19. He was the leading M55 runner.
Dara Dunne was also first in her F50 category. Her time was 24.35. Philip O’Hare was the first runner home in 19.19.
