Distance no object for D&D
A WET and rather humid evening greeted the runners who toed the line at last Friday’s Simon Cumbers 6k road race held in Navan, County Meath.
This unusual distance tempted more than 40 Drogheda & District AC members to take part in this very popular annual event.
Once the gun went, Shane Larkin, one of the club’s most consistent athletes, quickly made his way into the leading group of runners.
Larkin, sensing that he was in good form, pushed hard and his determined run saw him cross the line in 11th place overall in a fine time of 21.15.
Larkin’s run was good enough to win the Men’s O-40 category.
Not far behind were Colm Reilly and John Reilly who both know how to race well on these narrow roads, on this occasion Colm finishing in 21st place in 22.09 and John 28th in 22.25.
Also running well were Knut Nielsen in 25.33 and David Birch who ran 25.55 for the distance.
Michelle Hughes led the way home and was the club’s first lady across the line in 102nd place in a solid 24.58.
The ever-present Nuala Reilly wasn’t far behind in 139th place in 26.00, which earned her a first in category prize.
Backed up by the strong-running Sarah Clarke in 26.19 and Barbara Lowth Byrne 27.17, this quartet combined well to win third place in the ladies team event.
Back racing well again was Carmel Keenan, who ran 27.25, and Niamh Matthews who finished 258th in 28.26. Others who ran well included club captain Jane Glynn, Jacqueline Gill and Edel Smith.
Meanwhile on a much more pleasant evening at last Wednesday’s Dublin Athletic Board graded meeting held in Tallaght Stadium, Hugh Callan delivered a good performance when winning his heat of the 200m in a fast 24.82.
Callan is one of D&D’s most improved athletes in the last year and should go well in the summer track meetings. Also running was David Quinn who finished 10th in the 1500m in 5.09.79.
Marathon man Gerard Fay was in action at the Le Cheile AC 5k road race where he ran 24.23, and later in the week he ran 4.55 for the Killarney Marathon.
Twin brothers Peter and Dan Aylward took part as guests at the Dublin Athletic League Meeting held in Tallaght last Saturday.
Taking part in the Long Jump event, Peter recorded a new PB of 4.29m and Dan jumped 4.08.
The recent fine weather has the Oldbridge Parkrun course in great shape and times are starting to tumble.
Joe Rooney raced round this challenging 5k course in a new PB time of 21.57 and couldn’t stop smiling once he got his breath back.
Declan McMahon continues his journey back from injury and finished 18th overall in 22.32.
Young Senan Gough paced his dad round the course and ran a fine 25.17, eight seconds ahead of his father in 25.25.
Maria Kiernan was the club’s first lady finisher in 33rd place in 24.18. Noreen Burke was 68th in 30.01 and Rose Dalton ran a new PB of 32.47 when finishing 79th.
This Thursday evening sees round two of our Summer Track Series take place at the Lourdes Stadium. Events on the night are the 200m, mile, 5k and shot putt.