KERRY OFLAHERTY SECURES NATIONAL SILVER MEDAL AT GREAT IRELAND RUN

In a close race, the Newcastle AC athlete clocked 35:00 for the runners up spot, which also secured a silver medal in the National Championship competition.  The race was won by Shona Heaslip in 34:52 (1st place), with England’s Gemma Steel taking 3rd place in 35:08.  Laura Shaughnessy (DSD AC) claimed 4th place and rounded out the national podium in 35:15.

The men's race was won by Oliver Lockley (England) in a thrilling finish - Oliver recorded 30:18 (1st place) and just behind was Brian Maher (Kilkenny City Harriers) in 2nd place in 30:20, Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock) in 3rd place in 30:22, Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers) in 4th place in 30:23 and England’s Jack Gray in 5th place in 30:25.

In the team competition between Ireland and England, it was Ireland who retained the Sean Kyle Cup.

There were other notable performances by local athletes.  In the ladies race, Finn Valley AC's Teresa Doherty took 6th place in 35:35, while Bethanie Murray (DSD AC) also made the top ten with a finish time of 36:33 (9th place).  Lifford Strabane AC's Claire McGuigan ran 37:54 for 15th place and National Duathlon Champion Heather Foley (Unattached) clocked 38:52 for 21st place.

In the men's race, North Belfast Harriers' Mark McKinstry led the local contingent home in 32:00 for 14th place.  Just two seconds split Finn Valley AC's Gerard Gallagher (32:33) and North Belfast Harriers' John Black (32:35) as they claimed 21st place and 22nd place respectively.  Philip Goss (North Belfast Harriers) also ran well, clocking 33:11 for 26th place.

Elsewhere this weekend…

LOCAL ATHLETES CLAIM IUAA TITLES AT MARY PETERS TRACK

Five Irish Universities Athletics Association (IUAA) records were smashed as Queen’s University Belfast hosted the IUAA Track & Field Championships (Friday 13^th and Saturday 14^th April 2018).

Six local students also picked up gold medals as 510 athletes from 20 universities descended on Mary Peters Track (Belfast), for the two-day competition.

Ulster University representative Jack Magee was one of the IUAA record breakers with an excellent 65.95m (1^st place) effort to win the Javelin competition.  There were also gold medals for Lydia Mills (QUB), Mark Burton (QUB) and John Kelly (LYIT) in the field.

Lydia Mills won the Long Jump with a 5.61m leap for 1^st place, before going on to pick up a bronze medal in the Triple Jump – her 11.59m jump was also a QUB record.  Mark Burton also achieved a QUB record in the Triple Jump, reaching 15.24m for 1^st place and the associated gold medal.  Established Shot Putt competitor John Kelly launched a 15.16m effort for 1^st place.

On the track, Andrew Mellon (QUB) won the 400m in 47.74 (1^st place), while over the 400m hurdles, Ulster University’s Niamh Malone struck gold in 63.35 (1^st place).

Zoe Carruthers, a local lady representing DCU, won the 800m in 2:19.48 (1^st place).

Emma McCay had a good weekend, collecting two silver medals.  Emma took 2^nd place in the High Jump with a 1.65m clearance and then went on to finish as runner up in the Combined Events, securing 2^nd place with 3020 points.

Fellow Ulster University team member Eimear Fitzpatrick was in action in the 3,000m Steeplechase, where she finished in 2^nd place.  Eimear’s 11:59.39 was an Ulster University record.

In the 5,000m, Neil Johnston (QUB) clocked 15:23.62 for 2^nd place.  In the ladies equivalent, Sinead Sweeney (QUB) crossed the line in a new QUB record of 18:00.38 for 3^rd place.

QUB athletes Jonathon Hill and Adam Hill also claimed bronze medals.  In the Long Jump, Jonathon leaped to 6.84m (3^rd place), while in the High Jump, Adam cleared 1.80m (3^rd place).

Away from the local performances, it was Irish international Phil Healy (WIT) who impressed most.  Phil claimed two IUAA record, running 11.55 in the 100m heats and 23.31 in the 200m heats – she went on to take gold in both finals, running 11.99 (1^st place) and 23.64 (1^st place) respectively.

DCU’s Kae Veale took gold in the 1500m Walk, in a new IUAA record of 6:14.48 (1^st place).  Matthew Behan (DCU) won the 100m hurdles in a new IUAA record of 14.16 (1^st place).

Full results for the event are available HERE.

DAVICIA PATTERSON IMPRESSES ON SEASON OPENER AT ATHLETICS NI OPEN MEET

Commonwealth Youth Games star Davicia Patterson (Beechmount Harriers) recorded a personal best as she opened her 2018 outdoor season with victory over 200m at the Athletics NI Open Track & Field Meeting (Sunday 15^th April 2018).

The rising star recorded an impressive 24.85 (-0.5) to win the 200m.

In the closely contested 100m, Conor Crowe (Unattached) led the way in a personal best of 11.37 (-0.9).  In the ladies equivalent, City of Lisburn AC’s Holly Mulholland eased to victory in 13.40 (-2.8).

Dromore AC’s Adam Hildtich went well under the two-minute mark in the 800m, clocking 1:58.74 for victory.  In the 5,000m, Carmen Runners athlete Martin Cox won comfortably in 8:51.58.  Beechmount Harriers’ Sarah Lavery won in 10:54.90.

Lagan Valley AC’s Alex Boyd was first home in the 1500m, crossing the line in 4:17.90.  In-form Nakita Burke broke the beam in 4:40.70.

In the field, City of Lisburn AC’s leaped to 6.20m in the Long Jump – Emily Forte of Lagan Valley AC won the ladies equivalent in 4.89m. Trevor McGlynn (Omagh Harriers) won the men’s Javelin (32.46m), Shot Putt (9.29m) and Discuss (27.43).

Para-athlete Dougie Durrant impressed with in the Shot Putt (4kg Seated Throw) with a 8.42m effort and in the Discuss (1kg Seated Throw) with a 23.74 throw.

Full results for the event are available on our ‘Results’ page HERE.

JOSHUA JARDINE AND JASMIN PARIS KICK OFF BRITISH FELL RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH VICTORY IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Joshua Jardine (Helm Hill) and Jasmin Paris (Carnethy HRC) starred as the Northern Ireland Mountain Running Association (NIMRA) hosted the first ever running of the Mourne Highline Mountain Race, a course designed especially for the Northern Ireland leg of British Fell Running Championships (Saturday 14^th April 2018).

The eyes of the British and Irish fell running communities were on Northern Ireland with this being Round 1 of the aforementioned Championships – but in truth, everyone struggled to see anything, with the thick fog which covered most of the 15k route (incorporating 1300m of ascent).

After claiming third place on his last visit to the Mourne Mountains, much was expected of Joshua Jardine and he delivered, with some style.  The Under 23 British Champion made short work of the tough course and defied the poor conditions as he move through the field in the second half of the race to win in an impressive 1:35:02 (1^st place).

2016 British Championship winner Rhys Findlay-Robinson (Dark Peak Fell Runners) followed less than a minute later to secure the runners up spot in 1:35:41 (2^nd place). Just behind was Under 23 athlete Jack Wood of Ilkley Runners, who recorded 1:36:43 for 3^rd place.

In the race for local honours, a fast descent off Slieve Commedagh from previous British Championship (NI) round winner Allan Bogle (City of Derry AC) saw him pass rising star Zak Hanna (Newcastle AC) in the closing stages; the Spartan athlete claimed 1:41:07 place in 19^th place.  Zak crossed the line in 1:41:27 for 21^st place.

In the ladies race, former Skyrunning Xtreme World Series Champion Jasmin Paris returned to competitive action in fine fashion.  Cheered on by her husband Konrad and 5-month old daughter Rowan, the Carnethy HRC athlete blasted to victory, leading from start to finish, to win in 1:51:49 (1^st place).

Another of the pre-race favourites, in-form Caitlin Rice (Ribble Valley Harriers) secured 2^nd place.  Caitlin covered the Spelga Dam to Donard Park route in 1:55:39, finishing just ahead of Eryri Harriers hot prospect Bronwen Jenkinson, who completed the top three in 1:58:56 (3^rd place).

Like the men’s event, the battle for the first local finisher in the ladies race was a close affair, with Garmin Mourne Skyline MTR 2017 winner Shileen O’Kane (Lagan Valley AC) edging out emerging star Sarah Graham (Mourne Runners).  Shileen crossed the line in 2:04:53 for 6^th place, with Sarah following in 2:06:25 (7^th place).

In the associated junior race, Jared Martin (Scrabo Striders) and Grace Carson (Mid Ulster AC) led their respective field home!

Full results for the event are available HERE.