Sidney adds American flavour to 5K
THE 12th running of the Alec Fennell 5km, sponsored by Cullen Auto Parts, saw an International flavour added to the event as USA Athlete Sidney Hirsch won the ladies event in a course record of 18.30 minutes.
Sidney is visiting Ireland with boyfriend Tómas Cotter who represented Ireland at the recent European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam in the 3000m Steeplechase event.
There was a double celebration for the couple as Tómas also won the mens event in the second fastest time ever in 15.30 mins. Tómas competes for Dunleer AC while not on International duty and this was his first time running the event.
Both Tomas and Sidney were presented with their prizes kindly sponsored by Mint jewellers as all money raised from the event goes directly to Charity with this year’s chosen charity being The Maria Goretti Foundation in Lordship.
Second place went to six-time winner Brian McCluskey who was returning from a long lay-off due to injury. With nearly two hundred competing the club were indebted to the club family and friends who cooked and baked the refreshments for after the event, and even to the lads who took the lazy way out and bought the buns on the way!
NER officials would also like to thank DKIT service provider SGE for refreshments and to Last Lap Café, DKIT Sports and Societies Office for use of the grounds and to all club officials and friends who helped to mark the 5km course around the trail and sports fields.
Elsewhere, the track season continued with the Louth Cham- pionships with over 40 medals won by the club in a wide range of events. Simon Allen produced the run of the night with victory in the senior 3000m event with a tremendous last lap. Full results are on the Athletics Louth website.
Next event is the Drogheda & District AC Graded League event on Thursday 11th August. This can be used by athletes to finish their preparations for the upcoming National Masters Championships.
The road racing season seems already over populated with events, so it was great to see a large turnout at local athletic club events with the club winning both the ladies and mens team sections at the Dunleer Four Miles event.
The Michael Fearon 5km promoted by Glenmore AC in Carlingford saw the club well represented with the mens team coming third and the ladies in fourth place. Full results on www.myrunresults.com
Training Times: Tuesdays at St Helena’s Park; New comers welcomed at 6.15 pm start time. Experienced runners at 7.00. All sessions free for club members or €2 for guests; Thursdays at DKIT 6.15, one session for all, at DKIT Sportsfield. Keep an eye on the club Facebook page first as training is sometimes switched to Drogheda for track sessions.
Fixtures: National Masters track and field championships, 22nd Aug; Ardee AC 5km on 03rd September; Dundalk Marathon, being organised by Marathon Club of Ireland with Collette O’Hagan on a two loop course around Ravensdale on 11th September; Blackrock AC Stephen Carroll memorial four miles road run, 24th September.