At the end of a long year of competitive action, three Letterkenny Athletic Club runners managed to fit a race into the dying hours of 2019.
On Tuesday, Monica McGranaghan won the F40 category in The Lough 5, a 5 mile road race around the scenic area of Loughmacrory, near Omagh.
Her time was an excellent 32.46, which completed a highly successful year for Monica.
Club Chairman, Aidan McKenna, had a fine run and crossed the line in 33.43.
Completing the trilogy of LAC runners, John Hughes clocked 37.07. The race winner was Matthew Neill, of Acorns AC, in 25.00.
The year 2020 was merely a few hours old when another group of LAC runners took part in the Raphoe 5K.
It was held on January 1st and LAC women featured at the sharp end of the race. Natasha Adams was the 2nd woman in 18.33. Eimear Wiseman ran her 2nd sub 19 minute 5K in the space of days. She was 3rd in 18.47, which was another PB for the in-form runner.
The first woman across the line was ex LAC runner, Maria McCambridge, now of Dundrum South Dublin, in a time of 18.25.
Former LAC stalwart, Gary Crossan, finished in 17.42. Michael Harkin’s time was 19.15 and Michael Galvin’s was 19.21. Marie Boyle’s good form continued and she ran an excellent time of 20.25.
Gary Kearns crossed the line in 21.02. Paul Lee clocked 21.28, fellow M50 athlete Stephen Shiels 21.37 and John Wilson 21.50. Margaret Shiels got 2020 off to a winning start and was the leading F50 runner in 22.57. Theresa Wiseman also had a strong run in the F50 category and finished in 24.35.
The race was highly successful and attracted almost 300 runners.
Raphoe Running Club deserve praise for their initiative and hard work which launched Donegal athletics into 2020. The race winner was Finn Valley AC’s Patrick Brennan in a very fast time of 15.30.
The first Letterkenny Parkrun of 2020 was well supported, with 125 runners taking part on Saturday morning.
The leading LAC finisher was young Eoghan Farren. This was Eoghan’s first parkrun and it was an impressive debut. His time of 21.33 gave him 6th place overall and first place in the JM11-14 category. Paul Lee was the first M50 runner home, in a time of 22.01. Anthony Farren finished in 24.11. Richard Raymond made an excellent comeback from a recent back problem and was the leading M65 runner in 24.22.
The first female finisher was Noreen McGettigan in 24.23. Noel Lynch’s time was 25.06. John Doherty crossed the line in 26.16. The 2nd M65 finisher was James McBride in a time of 27.06. Peter McLean’s time, in his 94th parkrun, was 30.25.
The first runner home was Cian Friel in 19.23.
LAC runner, Gerard McGranaghan, is organising a 10K which will take place on Sunday January 19th in Kilmacrenan.
The ‘Kilmac 10K & Family 3K Walk’ will start at 10.40am. The entry fee for the 10K is €10 and donations are welcome from the 3K Walkers.
There will be chip timing and registration and parking will be at the new Kilmacrenan Development Park. All proceeds will go to support the Kilmacrenan Community Development Group.
