Cloonacool, Gort, parkruns, AIT
Cloonacool 5k start
Between Sligo’s snow flecked Ox Mountains above and the upper reaches of the Moy below, Cloonacool GAA held their 5th annual 5k run today. It was 5 degrees C at noon as the race started, a good day for running with a light breeze into faces as the field turned at the local Community Centre half way point on this out-and-back mainly flat course. The event is well organised and marshalled, backed by a strong community spirit, and with good facilities at local GAA clubhouse HQ, including a fine spread of refreshments and busy tea-kettles- certainly value for money at 10 euro.
Anthony Flannery (Clonliffe Harriers) was the winner in 17:03. He caught up with Anto Devaney (Mayo AC) at the 4k mark, and there was just 4 seconds between them at the finish. David Kearins (Sligo AC) was third in 17:49. Sean Murphy came home in 7th in 18:59, and like Anto he was sharpening up ahead of the cross-country next week in Dunboyne where he will join our Masters Men’s team.
Women’s top three:1. Mari Johnston (Sligo AC) 20:04, 2 Lorraine Hosey (South Sligo AC) 22:14, Connie Walsh (South Sligo AC) 22:43
Other Mayo AC members finishing were Patricia Carty 23:45 and Tom Hunt 21:13.
Full results Cloonacool5KResults2014_provisional, prizwinners here: Cloonacool 2014 5k prizewinners
In the Gort 8k, Ann Lennon won the women’s race, finishing in 7th overall in a great time 30:48 and with just 30 seconds between the first three women. This was her best finish time of the three 8k races she has run this year. There were 174 finishers, led home by Matt Bidwell (GCH) in 26:04. Mark Fitzgerald finished in 45:15
results .Gorgeous Gort 8K – South Galway AC
There were some more good club results in Saturday morning’s Parkruns.
Paula Prendergast was first woman homed in Marlay Park, Dublin in 19:12 (274 participants).
Brendan Gill ran a parkrun PB to win at Westport in an excellent 17:19.
Michael McNeela was 6th, 19:46, with Jimmy Feeney 7th 19:58 (52 participants)
Sprinter John Walkin competed in the National Senior Indoors in Athlone. He ran in heat 1 (of 6) in the 60 metres. John was ‘extremely disappointed’ with his start and finished in 7.92. Qualification standard in that heat was 7.29. He will next compete in Connacht Indoors in two weeks time.