Campbell does Dunleer proud in Blackrock race
DUNLEER AC might have been quietly working away these last few weeks, training and planning their winter season, but last weekend they exploded onto the local road race and cross-country scene with some brilliant running.
Garry Campbell was the first to impress with a second-place finish at the Blackrock AC Road Race, which celebrated and remembered the lives of local men Stephen Carroll and Captain Mark Duffy who unfortunately lost their lives in recent times.
Fintan Reilly and Blackrock AC had an amazing line-up of athletes at the event on Saturday night, with four Olympians competing, so it is no surprise that Campbell was very pleased with his time and placing in the men’s event, with 19:33 on the clock. Olympian Mick Clohissey won the event in 19:08.
Darragh Greene was the next Dunleer man home in fifth place and 20:11, just ahead of another former Olympian, Mark Kenneally.
Seventeen-year-old Diarmuid Mc Keown was the third Dunleer man home in 20:34. He was the first junior man and ninth overall, fulfilling the promise he had shown on the track during the summer with National success.
Further down the field, Anthony Connolly and Pat Fitzpatrick had huge PBs at the distance, coming home in 22:35 and 22:39 respectively and both finishing in the top 25.
The women’s race was a great one, with former European Cross-Country champion and Olympian Fionnuala Mc Cormack Britton the star of the show. Her time of 21:04 was a new course record, and she was followed home by Emma Mitchell in second and Catherina Mc Kiernan in third. Best of the Dunleer AC ladies was Nicola Courtney in 29:42 - fifth Over-40 - while Seaghna Campbell was second Junior lady.
On Sunday it was the turn of the cross-country specialists at the Star of the Sea event, with Karen Costello an easy winner in a competitive 3km over the soft, hilly course at Greenanstown, Stamullen. The men were resting up after the road race the night before!
The juveniles relished the conditions, with hills, mud and sunshine on the day. Conor Brennan had an excellent win in the Boys Under-9 event, with teammate Declan Mc Entee on the podium with him for a top-six placing and together with Christian Farrell and Evan Costello running out easy winners in the team competition.
Dunleer AC had another winner at Under-12 level, with Erinn Leavy enjoying a commanding lead throughout the 1500m lap and being joined on the podium by teammate Lucy Sheridan. Vanessa Brennan had a great run also, sprinting home to help the team to first place.
Victor Eseosa had a great return to cross-country running and finished first in the Boys Under-15 3k, striding away to victory in the last 100m.
Dáire Mathews was beaten on the line in a sprint finish in the Boys Under-10 to finish second, while Patrick Farrell had a great run in the Under-14 race to finish in third place.
Other podium finishers were Matthew Mc Entee (Under-12) and Conor Matthews and Danny O’Brien (Under-17), while great running was done by Sally Sheridan, Danielle Brennan, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Edward Mc Entee, and Fran Whelan who helped Dunleer to third place in the Under-17 team competition.
•Dunleer AC is hosting a 3k run/jog/walk this evening (Tuesday) at 7.15 to raise funds for clubhouse renovations. This event is for all the family and donations will be greatly accepted. It will be timed and pacers will help you reach your goal times.