|
19th
July 2011
Schools International Medals in Cardiff But Delight and Dismay
in Dublin
A weekend of highs and lows for local athletics
with Anna Barr and Ryan McParland medalling at the Schools
International in Cardiff as the Irish squad finished runners
up to a strong English team; the City of Derry Spartans women
and the Olympian men were in Dublin booking their places in
the National League Division 1 Finals next month; Emmet McGinty
was an impressive winner of Thursday nights Coleraine 10K
and Greg Roberts finished a close up fourth in the Phoenix
Park in the Irish Runner 5 mile classic, but there was also
bitter disapointment for the Spartans mens squad in Dublin
who slumpede to relegation from the Premier Division of the
National League.
A weekend of highs and lows for local athletics with Anna
Barr and Ryan McParland medalling at the Schools International
in Cardiff as the Irish squad finished runners up to a strong
English team; the City of Derry Spartans women and the Olympian
men were in Dublin booking their places in the National League
Division 1 Finals next month; Emmet McGinty was an impressive
winner of Thursday nights Coleraine 10K and Greg Roberts finished
a close up fourth in the Phoenix Park in the Irish Runner
5 mile classic, but there was also bitter disapointment for
the Spartans mens squad in Dublin who slumpede to relegation
from the Premier Division of the National League.
Lets start however with the positives and sprinters Anna Barr
and Ryan Mc Parland both grabbed relay silver medals at the
prestigious Schools International in Cardiff on a wet and
windy Cardiff on Saturday. Anna made up for her fifth place
300 metres indivual effort with a cracking relay leg over
the same distance to help the Irish quartet to the silver
medals behind their English rivals. Ryan too had a storming
run in the Irish 100 metres relay squads similiar finish behind
the English and with Mark McGarvey posting a Long Jump 5th
and a 100m Hurdles 7th the Irish combined squads ended the
day behind the English but significantly ahead of the Welsh
and Scots in the quadrangular annual championships.
Greg Roberts ran 25m 08s for fourth in the Irish Runner 5
mile classic in Dublin with Bay Road 5K record holder Paddy
Hamilton of Annadale clocking 24m 56s for victory on the testing
Phoenix Park course. Clonliffe Harrier Sergiu Ciobanus was
second on 25m 04s as the Spartan was pipped for third by Mark
Hoey of Star of the Sea AC with 25m o7s. Last Thursday night
in Coleraine EmmetMcGinty ran 33m 15s for a convincing win
over 10K. The Spartan followed up his recent Culmore win to
indicate he is almost back in full flight as he outran Larnes
Paul Herron whose late surge gave him a 33s 50s runners up
finish,just three seconds clear of Noel Logan. Pius McIntyre
of Foyle Valley was fourth on 34m 02s and other locals in
the top ten were Gary Slevin sixth and Ryan Snodgrass tenth.
Paula Mc Gilloway took the womens O45 age category award.
Back to Dublin and the Morton Stadium in Santry one of the
two National League second round venues over the weekend.
A good day for the female Spartans and the Olympian men as
both clinched their places in next months National League
Division 1 finals in Tullamore. The Spartans made little of
Anna Barrs absence to amass an excellent 99 points bringing
their two round total to 197 and qualifying comfortably in
sixt spot for the eight team final. The Olympian boys worked
really hard to improve their position from a first round tenth
to snatch the vital last qualifying place with a total of
180 points and they will travel to Tullamore next month buoyed
by that collective performance.
The detailled individual performances are not yet to hand
but the battling qualities of both squads shone through on
a long, wet and windy day in Santry and no doubt everyone
concerned will be hoping for warmer and dry conditions next
time out. Unfortunately there will not be the annual August
trip to Tullamore for the Male Spartans whose depleted squad
slumped to a mere 68 points haul on Sunday and their combined
two round total of 134.5 points gave them 14th overall and
sadly,relegation from the Premier Division just a year after
a marvellous third place Final finish. Injuries and unavailability
of key personnel were at the heart of the problem and at this
level quality counts and the Spartans, in too many ares lacked
that on Sunday.
5K Series Finale ON Wednesday Night
---------------------------------------------
The sixth and final race in the Furey Insurances 5K series
concludes the 2011 action tomorrow night Wednesday 20th July
on the two lap Baliniska circuit with the Sports Complex once
again the race HQ. Entries will be taken there from 6pm on
the night for the race start at 7 30pm. The Post race Awards
and refreshments will be at 8 30pm approx back at the Complex.
Each of the six Series races has a £420 prize fund and
of course there also is the overall £700 available for
distribution to the top Open, Masters and U 20,s based on
their best four series performances. In addition all who have
completed a minimum of four races qualify for one of the much
coveted series T shirts.
All intending participants are asked to arrive in good time
to enter as the race HQ is about half a mile from the start
on Disc Drive in the Baliniska Industrial Estate. The two
lap course is good for spectators and the race traditionally
always draws a massive spectator input, much appreciated by
the runners. Hopefully the weather will be kind on the night
and the 2011 series ill conclude on a decent evening for running.
|
