Letterkenny AC’s Paul McFadden had a tremendous run in Sunday’s inaugural Donegal East Half Marathon. He was the race winner in an excellent time of 1.18.37. Gary Kearns’ time was 1.40.33.
Margaret Shields’ good form continued and she clocked 1.49.27. Andrea Killoran achieved a PB of 1.57.50.
The programme of events in Donegal East also featured a three-quarter marathon. The rarely run distance, which comprises 19.66 miles or 31.65KM, is replicated only once anywhere in Ireland. That is in Enfield, Co Meath, and it will be run next Sunday. Kieran Coyle finished in 2.27.29.
The distance is ideal preparation for the forthcoming Dublin Marathon and Kieran will now be confident of a good performance in Dublin on October 28. The race winner was City of Derry Spartans’ Kyle Doherty in a very fast time of 1.51.13.
Club Chairman, Aidan McKenna, had a very busy weekend of running in Monaghan. Aidan finished in second place in Saturday’s Monaghan Phoenix 10K in a time of 40.32.
He showed his remarkable powers of recovery just 24 hours later by completing the Monaghan Phoenix half marathon in 1.33.07. That time gave Aidan a first-place finish in the M45 category. Conor Duffy, Glaslough Harriers, was the half marathon winner in 1.14.26.
Michael Galvin notched up his fastest ever Letterkenny park run time when he clocked 19.57 on Saturday. He was fourth overall and second in the over 45’s category.
Paul Toner, fellow LAC M45, was just behind Michael in a time of 19.58. Pol Mac Giolla Bhride’s time was 22.10. First across the line was former Letterkenny AC stalwart, Gary Crossan.
Gary, now living in Dublin and running with Dundrum South Dublin AC, clocked 17.43 to finish more than two minutes clear of his nearest challenger. At his peak, when he ran with LAC, Gary was a multiple national champion at both half marathon and marathon.
Peter McLean, who has competed 80 times in the Letterkenny Park Run, spent last Saturday in the more exotic surroundings of Florida. Peter competed in the Crystal River Triathlon in Florida and was third in his category in 1.30.55.
Letterkenny AC held a very well attended AGM in the town’s Station House Hotel last Monday. Details were provided of the huge number of individual and team successes, over the past year, at every level from Juvenile to Masters.
Success was enjoyed on the road, cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. Details will be provided next week of the Officers and Committee for the coming year.
Letterkenny AC will hold its annual New Mills 10K on Sunday, October 14, starting at 11.30am. Registration will take place from 10.00am at Aura Leisure Centre. Race entry is €8.
There will be chip timing, a flat course and a water station at 5K. The route is one lap around New Mills. There is a generous prize list- Male/Female Open, M40/50/60 & F40/50/60.
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