COUNTY ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS: RUAIRI BACK ON TRACK WITH EUROPEAN TIME

BY BRENDAN O’DONNELL: Letterkenny AC’s Ruairi Finnegan was the star performer at Saturday’s Donegal Track and Field Championships held in Lifford.

In his first race back on the track after a six month lay off through injury, Finnegan ran an excellent 3.50.34 in the 1500m, inside the B standard for the forthcoming European Juniors to be held in Italy in July. The leaving cert student has certainly set down a mark for the season with much more to come.

This was the first Donegal Championships held at the Lifford venue for over 15 years.

With a new Mondo track in Lifford, the same as the fast track at last years London Olympics, quick times were expected. Prior to Finnegans European standard, City of Derry’s Conor Bradley ran an impressive 1.53.48 in the 800m. Lifford AC’s Ann Marie McGlynn won the Senior 1500m in 4.30.76, with Galway City Harrier athlete Alanna Lally blazing a trail in the 400m with a 57.68s run.

Other impressive performances on the day included Rosses athlete Derek Gillespie taking the senior high jump with a leap of 1.80m and Finn Valleys John Kelly throwing the shot out to 17.35m. Veterans of Donegal Championships Hugh Gallagher from Milford and Killybegs native Bernie O’Callaghan collected golds in the shot and 1500m walk respectively.

A juvenile programme from U12 upwards also saw a number of fine performances from Donegal athletes.

The Black twins from Cranford collected medals in the sprints, distance and long jump, Lifford AC’s Charlie McElwaine pipped Letterkenny’s Ben Carr in the U14 1500m, one of the races of the day, while Finn Valley’s Lauren Callaghan and Janine Boyle claimed gold both in the sprint and long jump.

All in all, this was a fine days athletics to bring down the curtain on the Donegal Championships for 2013. With over 200 athletes mid week in Letterkenny and nearly 150 athletes in Lifford on Saturday, this was a very successful Donegal Championships in 2013.

A big thank you to all the officials that ensured the full programme ran off successfully and on time. Thanks to Paul and Georgina Drumm for their expertise in bringing electronic timing to Donegal yet again. Thanks to all the clubs and athletes both within Donegal and further afield who turned out to support the Championships.

On a personal note, I’d like to thank everyone from our own Lifford club who worked tirelessly over the past number of weeks to ensure everything was right for the hosting of these Championships in the town. There was a huge amount of work done in a voluntary capacity which was a credit to all involved. Unfortunately some things were outside of our control including the line marking of the track which we had expected to be done in advance of these Championships. If we had the expertise within the area it would have been done.

Nevertheless, we did have all relevant start lines and break marks surveyed and marked to ensure any records or standards could be stood over.

Good luck to all our athletes athletes whose next steps will be Ulster T&F, Schools and All Ireland competitions in the weeks ahead.