Roberts Roars to Top of Standings
Gregory Wins Second Bob Mullan 5K
Gregory Roberts moved to the top of the overall standings after a convincing victory in the second race of the Bob Mullan Motors 5K Series. The City of Derry athlete took the lead after the first half mile and had a built up a healthy fifty metres lead by the end of the first lap. Roberts kept up the pressure on the second circuit of the tough Brandywell circuit to come home in 15 minutes 56 seconds; just three seconds outside Dermot Kerr’s record.
Seamus Kealey’s progress continued with a confident second place in 16:27 while Declan McCarthy strengthened his grip on the masters’ competition with third place overall in 16:34.
Foyle Valley’s Ciaran McDowell took fourth in 16:39 with Eoghan Furey ten seconds back in fifth and Paddy Nicell completing the top six in 16:54.
Former Northern Ireland cross-country champion Anne Paul made a welcome return
to competition after a year out with an achilles injury by knocking a massive 32
seconds off the course record with an 18:18 clocking. Former record-holder
Olivia McCullagh took second in 19:00 with Sheelagh Bodkin third in 19:38.
The junior men’s race was the closest contest of the evening with just seven seconds separating the first three places. Dominic Hazlett had to turn on a desperate sprint over the final metres to hold off Mark White with a time of 17:59. Lifford’s Michael Gallagher was hot the heels of the City of Derry pair with a time of 18:06.
In the overall standings; Roberts now has four point advantage over Kealey with Eoghan Furey a further 19 points back. Olivia McCullagh has a 20 points margin over Sheelagh Bodkin in the women’s competition with Catherine Moran breathing down her neck just two points back.
Declan McCarthy leads the masters category by ten points from Paddy Nicell who has 19 points to spare over Michael McGlynn.
Anne Paul (87) on way to course record.