Local runners to race in NY
TWO lucky Sligo kids will get to rub shoulders with some of the best athletes in the world this coming February as they get set to race in the prestigious Fastest Kid on the Block at the iconic Millrose Games.
Alice Belo and Shane Haran were the 2 lucky kids that battled their way to the summit of the talent ID programme run for 7 and 8 year olds by Believe and Achieve and backed by Galway man Richard Donovan every year. The kids dashed their way through the timing gates at their various test venue and then raced their way to the start line of the Millrose Games.
The programme, now in its fourth year is still seeking out some fantastic talent which is feeding through to local athletics clubs. Last year Mila Clancy went on to come second at the National Athletics Championships in Tullamore. And 2016’s winner, Darragh Fahy from Galway, is winning national title after national title every year since his Millrose experience.
In Sligo the Fastest Feet programme is being used every year to introduce kids to sport, specif- ically athletics. The opportunity is there then to encourage them to join a club or the Believe and Achieve Academy. The latter has been set up to allow kids to try a number of athletics disciplines and work alongside kids from other areas of the county.
The man backing the Fastest Feet program is Galway man Richard Dononvan.
Richard is behind The World Marathon Challenge, the North Pole Marathon, the Volcano Marathon among other epic global sporting events. Donovan also sponsors Elite athlete Paul Robinson in his pursuit of Tokyo 2020.
This year the kids will enjoy the trip of a lifetime to New York City. They’ll be given the red carpet treatment once more, before taking centre stage at the biggest indoor athletics meet in the world. Alice Belo attends Our Lady of Mercy School in Sligo where her running talent was spotted. Alice’s father is originally from Nigeria and her mum is from Poland and she is clearly benefiting genetically from both of their joint athletic ability!
Shane Haran hails from Curry in South Sligo and the little pocket rocket has a bit of Kerry blood in him that makes him a ruthless little competitor.
Both Alice and Shane will take a parent along with them for support and will return home to a hero’s welcome. They will have a huge following back home as the Millrose Games is streamed live from the Armory Track and is watched on NBC by Athletics fans all over the world.