NI and Ulster Athletes find Silver Lining at Manchester International

Headlining the evening was University of Ulster’s Katie Kirk, who is currently enjoying a terrific comeback to the sport. Competing in the Women’s 800m, Katie came 2^nd in a time of 2:07.77, winning a total of 7 points for the overall team scores, despite the ever present downpours.

Joining her on the podium was Springwell Running Club’s Neil Johnston, who came 2^nd in the Men’s 3000m in a time of 8:33.35, also adding 7 points to the team total.

After a brief stop to allow the rain to ease slightly, the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase was underway, with Olympian Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle & District AC) finishing in a triumphant 3^rd place in 10:07.62, gaining 8 points for the team.

Next to step up to the podium was Ballymena Runners’ James Hamilton, who came 3^rd in the Men’s Para 1500m in 4:01.46, thus gaining 6 points for the team, followed by Gareth Crawford (Lifford Strabane AC) who came 3^rd in the Men’s Javelin with a throw of 63.24m, gaining another 7 team points.

In the Women’s Guest 400m, Finn Valley AC’s Daniella Jansen came 3^rd in a time of 58.91. There were some great performances in the rest of the Guest events, such as from Oliver Swinney (Rising Stars), who in his NI & Ulster team debut, came 4^th in the Men’s 100m in a PB of 10.78s, followed by fellow debutant, Louis Albrow (North Down AC) in 7^th place in a time of 11.20. Banbridge Running Club’s Kyle Magwood took on the Men’s Guest 400m event, finishing 7^th in 55.77s, while Lauren Roy (Ballymena & Antrim) competed in the Women’s Guest 100m finishing in 6^th place in 12.21s.

Out on the field, the athletes impressed, with City of Lisburn AC’s Anna McIlmoyle finishing 4^th in the Women’s High Jump, clearing 1.61m and adding 5 points to the team total. In the Men’s Long Jump, Keith Marks McCabe (Clonliffe Harriers) jumped 7.24m to finish in 5^th place and add 4 points to the team total, while Mark Burton (City of Lisburn AC) came 6^th in the Men’s Triple Jump with a jump of 14.42m and an additional 3 team points. Northern Ireland’s Ellie McCartney (Woodford Green Essex Ladies), competed in the Women’s Pole Vault for her club and finished in 5^th place, clearing 3.81m.

For the NI & Ulster team, there were a number of solid performances on the track, with the athletes proving their determination against the ever changing weather conditions. In the Women’s 100m Ambulant event, North Down AC’s Eve Walsh-Dann came 4^th in 14.68s to add another 5 points to the team total.

Conall Kirk (Annadale Striders) came 5^th in the Men’s Mile in 4:17.16, collecting 4 points for the team, as Paul Sexton (Annalee AC) took 5^th place in the Men’s 400m Hurdles in 57.01s adding another 4 points. In the Women’s 100m Hurdles Mollie Courtney (Cheltenham Harriers) came 5^th in 13.87s, adding 4 points.

In the 4x400m Relays, the Women’s team of Daniella Jansen, Katie Kirk, Kelly McGrory (Tir Chonaill AC) and Rachel McCann (North Down AC) finished in 5^th place in 3:52.75, with 4 points, while the Men’s team of Oisin McCorry, Paul Sexton, Kyle Magwood & Callum Crawford-Walker came 6^th in 3:27.70, collecting 3 points.

In the Women’s 3000m, North Down AC’s Jessica Craig finished in 9:57.20 to take 6^th place and 3 points for the team, while Kelly McGrory (Tir Chonaill AC) came 7^th in the Women’s 400m Hurdles in 1:01.39, gaining 2 team points.

City of Lisburn AC’s Lauren Roy came 6^th in the Women’s 100m, bettering her time from the earlier Guest 100m to finish in 12.16s, and collect 3 team points. Ballymena & Antrim AC's, Dean Adams finished the Men’s 100m in 11.00s to take 6^th place and collect 3 points, and Michael McCauley finished the Men’s 200m in 21.58s to take 7^th place and add an additional 3 points to the team total.

Annadale Striders’ Callum Crawford-Walker competed in the Men’s 800m, finishing in 7^th place in 1:53.33 with 3 points, while Derry Track Club’s Conor McIlveen came 7^th in the Men’s 100m Ambulant race in 13.06s gaining 2 points for the team.

Making her senior team debut, City of Lisburn AC’s Jenna Breen proved her strength as, after an unfortunate fall in the Women’s 200m event, the 15 year old picked herself back up to finish in 7th place in a time of 46.70s and collect 2 points for the team. North Down AC pair, Rachel McCann took 7^th place in 56.60s in the Women’s 400m, and Rachel Gibson took 7^th in the Women’s Mile race in 4:55.64, both adding 2 points each to the team total.

After such a tremendous effort from the whole team, in somewhat unfavourable conditions, the team placed 7^th overall with 96 points in total. Congratulations not only to the athletes, but also to their personal coaches, whose hard work shone through the clouds.

Full results can be found here:

https://www.thepowerof10.info/resultsfiles/2019/287413_6002_15082019124951.pdf