Armagh International Road Race Roundup
14 February 2020
It was another fantastic night of racing at the Armagh International Road Races organised by Armagh AC yesterday. As always, there were a vast number of fast times, with around 139 Men hitting a sub 15 minute time in the 5k, 52 women hitting sub 10 minutes in the Women’s 3k and another 21 men reaching sub 9 minutes in the Men’s 3k.
In the Women’s 3k event, the NI & Ulster team finished in 4th place overall with 95 points. Letterkenny AC’s Nakita Burke was the first NI & Ulster women across the line in 14th place overall and a PB of 9:28, followed by Beechmount Harriers’ Sarah Lavery in 34th overall and a time of 9:45. Next for the team was North Down Ac’s Rachel Gibson who finished in a time of 9:53 in 47th place overall.
In the age categories, East Down AC’s Catherine O’Connor was the 2nd F35 in a time of 10:14, while Finn Valley AC’s Jane Halloran claimed the F50 top spot in a time of 11:57. The Junior ladies shone in the B age category, with Willowfield Harriers’ Kirsti Foster finishing in a time of 10:00, which was a PB of 43 seconds for the 14 year old. In 2nd place was City of Lisburn AC’s Victoria Lightbody who finished in a PB time of 10:19 followed by her club mate, Katie McCleery who finished in a PB time of 10:24.
In the Men’s 5k race, the NI & Ulster Men’s team secured 160 points to finish in 4th place overall, with St Malachy AC’s Ben Branagh leading the team in a time of 14:11. Second in for the team, was Newcastle AC’s Patrick McNiff who finished in 14:24 in 58th place overall, followed by Springwell Running Club’s Neil Johnston who finished in 14:33 in 69th place overall and City of Derry Spartans’ JP Williamson who finished in 106th place in a time of 14:46.
Among the local runners, Newcastle AC’s Ryan Forsyth was the first across the line in a time of 13:58, while City of Lisburn AC’s Chris Madden finished in 52nd place in a time of 14:22.
Acorns AC’s Matthew Neill claimed the title in the Men’s 3k race, finishing in a time of 8:37, followed by Letterkenny AC’s Danny Mooney, who came 2nd in 8:41 and Annadale Striders’ Eskander Turki finished 3rd in a time of 8:41.
In the age category events for the 3k, Neill Weir (Willowfield Harriers) claimed 1st place for the M40 category in a time of 8:58. For the M45, Martin McKenna (Armagh AC) took the win in 9:33, while Glaslough Harrier’s Declan McNally won the M55 in 11:47. Norman Mawhinney (Scrabo Striders) won the M60 category in 11:07, with Paul Elliot (Beechmount Harriers) winning the M65 category in 10:17 and North Down AC’s Terry Eakin winning the M70 category in 11:39.
The Junior men’s A category title went to Beechmount Harriers’ JJ Gracey who finished in 8:43, followed by St Malachys AC’s Adam Ferris in 2nd in 8:44 and North Belfast Harriers’ Matthew Lavery in 3rd place in 8:45. For the younger, B age group, Springwell Running Club’s Ryan Smith came 2nd in a time of 9:13, followed by North Belfast Harrier’s Luke Kelly in 3rd in 9:18.
Full results can be found here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/armagh_international_road_race__/3672/results