Tadgh turns on style in 5k
IN a week where local athletics was left reeling by the sudden death of 11-year-old Boyne AC talent Killian Ekhator, competitions continued and Drogheda & District AC’s Tadhg Donnelly triumphed at the Patsy Kelly 5K in Dundalk.
Tadgh finished fifth overall and first in the Junior Men’s race after clocking a fast time of 16:36 and the D&D men’s quartet of Donnelly, Paul Smith, Shane Larkin and Pat O’Grady were second in the team event.
O’Grady also won his Men’s Over-50 category.
Yasmin Canning won her category with a run of 19:58 and she combined well with Rachel McCormack, Ieva Ofmane and Barbara Byrne to finish second in the Ladies team event.
There were some good performances from D&D members in Sunday’s Great Ireland 10K road race in Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Martin Russell put in a good shift to run a new PB by almost two minutes when finishing in 41:10, as did his training partner Paddy Murphy. Brian Martin ran an eye-opening 34:33 for this tough 10K which has plenty of hills on the back section of the course.
The hilly fields of Oldbridge tempted five D&D members to compete in Saturday’s Parkrun on a beautiful spring morning.
This challenging 5K cross-country run is an ideal test of fitness before the summer road race season begins and regular competitor Seamus Roe was the club’s first finisher in 37th place overall in 25:33.
Next, in 55th place, was Linda Bowe who ran a new PB of 28:22, with Barney Flannery close behind in 28:43. Michele McCullough was 68th in 30:44 and Rose Dalton 85th in 34:35.
Round seven of the ALSAA Winter League took place last Wednesday evening on what was a windswept track to say the least.
Running in the mile race was Christy Duffy who ran 7:07 for the classic four-lap distance, allowing him finish third overall in the league standings.
Over in Raheny, Gerard Fay ran in the Raheny Shamrocks Holland Cup 3 Mile Race and came home in 21:35 for the event, which is run over three laps of the National Road Relay circuit.
The following evening, at the Clonliffe Harriers Grand Prix, Fay ran 30:56 for the McDonald Cup 4 Mile Track Race.
•Drogheda & District AC would like to offer sincere condolences to Killian Ekhator’s family, friends, fellow athletes and coaches at Boyne AC. May he rest in peace.