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19th
June 2011
Jason Smyth in European League Action---Hot Home Weekend Competition
From top European action in Turkey, through
some classy middle distance competition in Dublin, to a fast
Lifford 5K road race and in Antrim the NI/Ulster Juvenile
championships,local athletes were busy over the weekend. Jason
Smyth was in Izmir in Turkey with the Irish senior squad for
the vital European League 1 match and despite expressing disappointment
with his fourth place100m performance, the Eglinton man still
scored significant points in the individual 100m and the Sprint
Relay, contributing well to Irelands tenth place finish and
retention of a place in the division for 2013.Donegal athletes
Darren McBrearty and Mary McLoone were also in the Irish team
and contributed to the collective effort.
Connor Bradley who posted a new 800m PB of
1m 51.69s ,Pajo Hamilton,JP Williamson and Aaron Doherty were
in Dublins Irishtown Stadiun on Saturday night for an Irish
Milers Club meeting and alongside a sizeable Donegal contingent
produced good runs in quality fields. Shane McGowans U16 800m
gold medal at Antrim gave him a new PB of 2m 01s as nine Provincial
titles were won and Letterkenny pair Patrick Brennan and Ciaran
Doherty took the Lifford 5K honours on Friday night with the
former winning a close race in a swift 14m 34s.
A busy and productive weekend then and if Jason Smyths 10.44s
100m clocking failed to satisfy the Eglinton star in Turkey,
his fourth place finish..out of twelve ...produced valuable
points for the Irish teams successful retention of their European
League 1 status. He went on to run a good leg in the Sprint
Relay,the Irish quartets 39.61s clocking placing them an excellent
third.
" I have been travelling too much recently" he said,
referring to his trips to the Bahamas and New York in the
past few weeks. "I wasnt happy with my run at all but
i will go back wth my coach,Stephen Maguire, and re focus
for the rest of the summer " he concluded.
Meanwhile in Dublin on Saturday night four City of Derry runners
got in the thick of the Irish Milers Club meeting action with
Connor Bradley getting a new PB in the 800m "A"
race.. A closely contested two lapper was won in 1m 50.14s
by Tallaghts Anthony Leighilo and the Spartan was sixth with
1m 51.69s just behind Finn Valleys Noel Collins,1m 51.18s
and the in form Letterkenny man Dan Mooney who ran 1m 50.63s
for fourth. In the "C" race Pajo Hamilton was pipped
on the line with a seasons best of 1m 55.76s as he showed
his Provincial silver medal in Antrim a week earlier was no
flash in the pan.
JP Williamson went in the 1500m and found the pace a trifle
hot. The Oakgrove teenager ran 4m 12s. for the second wek
running finding himself isolated for much of the distance
and Aaron Doherty produced a 15m 20s 5000m run, a week after
doubling up over the distance in Antrim and Sligo.
Fast 5K In Lifford
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Friday nights Lifford 5K provided a head to head between Patrick
Brennan and Ciaran Doherty of Letterkenny AC with Brennan
winning by just four seconds at the line. His 14m 343s was
another impressive performance and the top two were well ahead
of third placer Pauric McKinneys 15m19s. The Spartans Paddy
Mhor Doherty did well for fourth on 15m 28s, former South
Donegal star David Wilson now in the M40 grade was next with
15m 42s and another Spartan, Gary Slevin got back on track
with 15m 56s for sixth.
Inishowen AC,s Helena Crossan ran 18m11s for the womens race
honours with Marina Campbell keeping the red vests to the
fore with a new PB of 18m 35s in the runners up spot. A good
performance from the Spartan who is clearly relishing her
new track training regime. Inishowen,s consistent Teresa Doherty
ran 19m 06s to pip Foyle Valleys Rosie O Brien for third but
both were given the same time.
City of Derry male Masters Peter Lilburn and Christy McMonagle
did well for 18m 13s and 20m 01s clockings as 165 finishers
were recorded in this popular event.
Juvenile Champions Crowned
--------------------------------
The immensely talented Shane McGowan headed the local rush
of gold medallists at the weekend NI/Ulster Juvenile championships
in Antrim,his spanking new 800m PB in the U16 age group perfectly
complementing his recent Irish Schools victory in Tullamore.
He sped to victory improving the 2m 03.12s Tullamore clocking
to a cracking 2m 01s on Saturday and then claimed 1500m silver
on Sunday to cap a great weekend.
The other local gold medal winners included Claire Dougherty
who doubled in High ad Triple Jump;Jack McCloskey 200m;Andrew
Bolster 300m Hurdles;Roisin Laverty Long Jump;Fiona Mallett
2K Steeplechase;Lisa Bradley 2K Walk; Michael Surman Javelin;
Mark McGeady Triple Jump and Ruaidhri O Neill 250m Hurdles.
Waterside Half Marathon News
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Good news on the road running front with a formal Waterside
Half Marathon launch expected early next week. The popular
Waterside event will celebrate its 30th staging on Sunday
11th September next and with NI championship status already
confirmed,the admittedly late formal launch will focus attention
on what has been a staple of road running locally and nationally
for the past three decades. Check the Derry City Council website
for updates.
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