Succesful Great Ireland Run for North Sligo AC
A blustery misty day greeted the nine thousand runners who took part in the recent Great Ireland 10k in the Phoenix Park.
The race incorporated the national 10k championships of Ireland.
Eamon McAndrew put in a gold medal winning performance.
The north Sligo athlete who was 2nd over 40 in last year’s national went one better this year to win gold in 33 minutes, 23 seconds,
Second was Dermott McElchar, Finn Valley at 33 minutes 37 seconds and third was Seamus Sommers of Sligo AC 34 minutes.
McAndrew led his North Sligo AC team to masters silver medals from 61 teams in the over 35 category,
Aiden McMoreland backed up his team mate with another top class effort to finish 9th in his over 35 category in 34 minutes 40 seconds, Dessie Foley put in another good performance and was the third scorer finishing 11th in his over 35 category, in 34 minutes 47 seconds.
The three lads combined to run a total time of one hour 42 minutes 56 seconds, just 39 seconds more than winners Donore Harriers but over two minutes faster than third placed Sportsworld.
The fourth member of the team was Eamon Murphy who finished sixth in his over 50 category with a great time of 36 minuts 46 seconds.
Feidhlim McGowan led the North Sligo senior men’s team to 11th place finish out of 42 teams in that category.
The national intermediate cross country bronze medallist who is just getting back into running after a short break ran a very lively 34 minutes, 43 seconds,
Donal Egan finished 28th in his senior catergory with a fine effort of 35 minutes 19 seconds,
David McCullagh picked the perfect race to set a new PB of 38 minutes one second, chopping 12 seconds off his old one.
The ever improving Alan Wallace set another big persnal best, slicing 49 seconds off his previous best when finishing 32nd in his category in 38 minutes, 23 seconds and Padraig Kelly the fifth member of the senior team ran 38 minutes, 28 seconds to finish 33rd in his category.
The master women’s team was led home by Heather Foley who despite suffering several setbacks in recent times put in very good performance on the day to finish fifth in her category with a time of 38 minutes, 54 seconds.
She was followed by Aisling Van Rensburg who pulled out an amazing performance her best in a long time with an 8th place finish in her category in 40 minutes, 58 seconds.
There was a big performance from Patricia McCosker on the big day with a sixth place finish in her category in 41minutes, 25 seconds saw the team run a combined total of 2 hours 1minute, 17 seconds for the three above runners to finish 2nd to a very strong Dunboyne team.
The 4th member of the masters team was Trish Lee who finished 10th in her over 45 category with a time of 45 minutes, 45 seconds and the fifth member of the team was Cathy McCarthy who finished 19th in her over 45 category.
Andrea Horgan was the sole senior woman representing the club in this event and she finished 19th in her category in a time of 43 minutes, 48 seconds.