St Johnston/Carrigans 5K race a huge success
Thursday, 19 January 2012
The lead runners set out on the St Johnston/Carrigans 5K road race on Sunday morning. GF0301CC
A BEAUTIFUL morning for road running saw 162 athletes take to the starting line for the first St Johnston/Carrigans 5K and the first 5K of the three race series which is being hosted by the Lifford club.
There has been a bit of a buzz around the series since it was announced just a few short weeks ago and with such a large turnout, it clearly is a series that will only go from strength to strength.
Sunday's race was won by Dean Toland from the Finn Valley club in 16.35 minutes, followed by City of Derry's Michael Finnegan, 17.16 minutes, and Lifford pair, Daniel Hannigan, 17.35, and James Crossan, 17.37.
The women's race was won by Catherine Lilburn, from City of Derry, in 19.20 minutes, followed by Foyle Valley's Gemma McGinty, in 24.17, Finn Valley's Samantha Wilkinson, 24.31, and Lifford's Joyce McKittrick, in 25.12.
The men's V1 category was won by Letterkenny's Humphrey Murphy, 17.40, followed by City of Derry's Gary McGee, 17.54, and Letterkenny's Martin Gormley, 17.55. The V2 category was won by Letterkenny's Joe English, in 17.55, second was
Jimmy Renfrew, from Enniskillen, 18.21, and third was City of Derry's Peter Lilburn, 18.48.
In the V3 category, City of Derry's Christy McMonagle led the way in 20.06, followed by Lifford AC's Danny Burns, 24.31. The junior men's race was won by Finn Valley's Orin McDermott, 19.33, followed by Lifford AC pair, Darren Gillespie, 20.34, and Ciaran Meehan, 20.55.
In the women's V1 race, there was a one-two for Lifford with Isabella Breslin coming home in 24.09, followed by Audrey Friel in 28.34, and Carla Hutton Crossan in 29.50. In the V2 category, Dympna Barret led the way in 25.27, followed by Ruth McCrudden, 26.56 and Alice Devenney in 29.19.
In the V3 category, it was a Lifford one-two-three with Betty Burns, first, in 36.19, followed by Joan Colhoun, 36.48 and Joan McHugh, 43.03. The junior women's race was won by Amy McDaid, from City of Derry, in 20.18, followed by Lifford AC's Shannon Craig, 25.39, and Nicole Cuskelly in 25.40.
One of the big positives from the day was the attendance of nearly 70 Lifford athletes, numbers unheard of just 12 months ago. Another positive was the big local turnout from St Johnston and Carrigans, which will hopefully be a kick-start for many first time athletes from the area.
A big thank-you is extended to all who helped out. A special word of thanks to Kildrum Tigers FC for providing their changing rooms and parking, the local Gardai for their marshalling of the event, the parents from the Fit4Life group that made sandwiches, and to Maurice Toland and the staff at the Fisherman's Inn for the use of their premises after the race.
This coming Sunday, the race series moves to Raphoe with a start time of 10am. Registration and changing is at Deele College. With the big turnout this week, and all athletes picking up points towards the finale in two weeks' time, another big turnout can be expected.
For further information, email liffordac@eircom.net or contact Brendan on 00353866007847.
Subscribe to read full newspaper »
Send to a friend
Please complete the following form to inform a friend about this page.
