Costello racks up the medals for Dunleer
KAREN Costello’s star continues to rise in Dunleer AC after she produced an outstanding result in last Thursday night’s Armagh International 3k.
One of the club’s top female athletes ever, she clocked a personal best time of 9:58 to finish in second place in the Over-40 section behind Kirsty Longley from Liverpool.
Costello was backed by her teammates Dearbhla Greene, who recorded an impressive time of 10:57 and Sally Clarke (11:50) and it looks like the sky is the limit for Costello as she continues to achieves PBs over various distances on the road, plus medals and titles in cross-country running.
Junior athlete Fran Whelan had a good run also on the night as he came home in 10:03 in the Senior Men’s 3k.
In the juvenile races the Dunleer AC youngsters rose to the challenge in fine style, with Fianaith King winning the Under-9 race and her clubmate Isobel Baldwin placing 15th.
Another super run from Cormac
Greene meant an impressive second place in the Boys Under-11 event in a race with 201 competitors. Teammate Lucas Lavery finished 32nd.
Dunleer AC had another amazing result and a superb team effort in the Girls Under-11 race, with speedster Cliodhna Reilly in second place in a field of 174 runners. Her teammates packed well, with Grace Mc Evoy fifth, Ella Meegan 12th, Kelly Sheridan 14th and Sadhbh Greene 29th. With all five of the Dunleer AC girls in the top 30, this was a fantastic outing for the team.
Another super silver was won by Dunleer AC in the Boys Under-13 age group, with Dáire Mathews second in a field of 150 runners. Conor Brennan made a fine return to racing with seventh place, with Tom Meegan and Evan Costello 20th and 21st respectively, Jack Greene 31st and Max Lavery 33rd.
The Girls Under-13 team did not disappoint, with Megan Mc Evoy and Sally Sheridan finishing fifth and sixth respectively. Sam
O’Neill and Matthew Fitzpatrick competed very well also in the Under-15 race as they came 13th and 38th respectively.
The final race of the Juvenile programme brought another great team effort from Dunleer AC, with Rebecca Baldwin third in the Girls Under-15 age group, Vanessa Brennan 28th, Lucy Sheridan 32nd, Danielle Brennan 35th and Aibhe Reilly 40th.
Karen Costello’s wonderful form continued on Sunday at the Kearney/Mc Bride Cup cross-country event hosted by Glenmore AC as she was a convincing winner of the Ladies race, with Dearbhla Greene in third.
The Dunleer AC ladies team were presented with the Mc Bride Cup as winners of the club team competition, and it was Karen who led them home, with Dearbhla, Sally (second over-40), Áine and Denise all doing their bit for the team.
The juveniles had super results also as they braved the wind and rain at this lovely new venue in Bellurgan.