Weekend Review From Monaco to Downpatrick

Diamond League, Monaco

Tokyo-bound, Ciara Mageean (City of Lisburn AC/ Team New Balance/ Coach: Steve Vernon), competed in the Women’s 1500m in the Diamond League in Monaco on Friday 9^th July, finishing in a season’s best time of 4.02.48.

European U23 Championships

City of Lisburn AC’s Ellie McCartney (Coach: Kate Rooney) competed in the Women’s Pole Vault at the European U23 Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. She finished 6^th in her Qualification group, clearing 4.05m.

Lauren Roy (City of Lisburn AC/ Coach: Adam McMullen)- joined the Irish Women’s 4x100m team, who finished their heat in 44.64, to gain qualification through to the final. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be in the final relay, with Germany taking the gold medal in a time of 43.05, but it was a great international competition experience for the team.

Grossglockner Berglauf World Cup

Newcastle’s Zak Hanna (USC Malonno) finished in 8^th place at stage two of the 2021 World Mountain Running World Cup on Saturday 10^th July, which was held in Heiligenbult, in the shadow of Austria’s highest mountain Grossglockner.

Co Down NI & Ulster 5k Championship

Closer to home, NI & Ulster athletes took to the Co Down 5k course in Downpatrick for this year’s NI & Ulster 5k Championships. Strive Racing Club’s Gavin Corey won the Men’s race in a time of 14:40, with Annadale Striders duo of John Craig (14:42) and Adam Spratt (14:47) hot on his heels. The Annadale Striders men had plenty to celebrate as they secured the team victory in the Men’s competition, in a total time of 1:00:28, with Stephen Wylie (15:23) and Stephen Connolly (15:28) adding to the team score.

In the Women’s event, the top place went to Nakita Burke (Letterkenny AC) who finished in 16:16, with team mate, Christine Russell claiming 2^nd place in 16:40 and Annadale Striders' Caitlyn Harvey finishing in 3^rd place in a time of 17:00. It was the freshly formed Women’s team from Annadale Striders who took the team prize, with team members Caitlyn Harvey (17:00); Robyn McKee (17:05); Dearbhla Cox (18:07) and Roseann Spence (20:33) finishing in a total time of 1:12.53.

North Belfast Harriers 800m and 1500m Meet

North Belfast Harriers provided another excellent competition opportunity on Saturday 10^th July at the Mary Peters Track, with a range of middle-distance events.

Derry Track Club’s Jason Smyth, won his first race of the year, in the Men’s 100m race 1 in a time of 10:83, before beating that time to gain another win in Race 2 with a time of 10:66. North Belfast Harriers’ Michael McKillop had a brilliant run in the Men’s 1500m, finishing in his fastest time since 2014, in 4:03.27.

Other stand-out performances came from unattached athlete, Katie Kirk in the Women’s 800m, where she won in a time of 2:03.43, her second 2:03 recorded that week, as she had competed in Italy earlier that week. Clones AC’s Denise Toner set a new F40 Masters record in the same race, with a time of 2:08.90.

There were a number of fantastic performances in the Women’s 1500m races for age group and senior athletes alike. Junior athlete, Rebecca Rossiter (Loughview AC) set a new PB in a time of 4:27.66, with Finn Valley AC and Youth Academy athlete, Cara Lavery also setting a PB with a time of 4:30.96.

Derry Track Club’s Adam Kirk-Smith won the Men’s 2000m Steeplechase in a time of 5:45.32, edging ever closer to his PB time of 5:44.10. The Men’s 1500m events also provided a host of PB performances, including City of Derry Spartan’s Conor Bradley in a time of 3:42.45, his fastest time since 2013.

Results from the North Belfast Harriers Meet and the Co Down 5k Championships can be found on our website:

Full Results