McArdle close to Euro qualification

LIFFORD Strabane AC’s Ashleigh McArdle came very close to qualification for the European Youths at the weekend where she achieved four personal best performances at the two-day Somerset heptathlon event in England.

The Ballymagorry girl is targeting the 4,800 point Euro qualification standard and while disappointed with missing out at the weekend with 4,399 points, she can take great satisfaction from her all round performances.

McArdle posted personal bests (PB) in the 100m hurdles (14.84s), shot put (12.61m), 200m (27.50s) and a pb equalling 1.61m in the high jump.

McArdle has the Europeans well within her sights and is looking towards one more competition before the mid-June deadline.

Another athlete chasing Euro qualification is Lifford Strabane AC’s Caoimhe Gallen.

On Saturday, Gallen was in Dublin for the UCD graded meet at Belfield where she threw a best of 54.97m in the hammer just over two metres shy of the 57.40m standard.

At the same event, Caoimhe’s sister Adrienne threw over 48m while Una O’Donnell threw over 38m, a personal best with the senior hammer.

Muireann McBride is getting back to her best where she threw over 42m with the 3kg hammer.

Elsewhere on the track, the club hosted the Donegal Post Primary Schools in Lifford on Thursday with up to 1,000 athletes taking part from around the county.

"Well done to all club athletes on their performances," a spokesperson said. "A big thank you to everyone from the club who helped out on the day including Brian McGlynn, Charlie Kelly, Mary and Alan Foley, Bernie and Cora Burns, Una O’Donnell and Sharon and Martin Gallen.

"Thanks also to Naomh Padraig GAA club for the use of their grounds for parking."

On the roads in recent days, club athletes were in action at a number of different events ranging in distance from 5k through to the Marathon.

On Thursday evening, Linda McGrath was an impressive winner of the Deele College and Royal and Prior Schools Jigsaw 5k.

McGrath took victory in a new personal best time of 18.54. Dympna Houston also had a great run and was third woman home in 21.39.

Also in action were a number of other club runners including those from the recent Couch to 5K programme who had their first competitive 5K outing.

Club finishers included Emma Peoples (28.52), Edel Porter (30.50), Rhonda Porter (31.24), Brendan O’Donnell (33.40), Laurence Doherty (33.42) and Cheryl Macbeth (41.25).

On Sunday, three athletes took to the streets of Belfast for the annual marathon event.

First home was Geoff Sproule in 3.19.38 with Gerard Campbell fresh from London last week to complete his 77th marathon in 3.41.50 with Dominic Carlin third home in 3.46.20.

" A lot of hard work and miles goes into preparation for the marathon distance so well done to all three on their performances at the weekend," the spokesperson added.

Two club athletes were in action at the North West 10K in Letterkenny on Monday.

John O’Donnell finished in 45.19 with young juvenile athlete Kyle Crawford running an impressive 49.48 in his first 10K.

This week, competition on the track will be at the Ulster District Schools qualifiers with events being held across the province including Antrim, Belfast and Clones.

"Good luck to all our club athletes taking part for their respective schools," the club spokesperson concluded.