Lifford AC juveniles and seniors were in action yesterday, with a large group of runners taking part in the Derry marathon and our younger athletes taking part in the Ulster T&F in Stranorlar.
Performance of the day in Derry went to Daniel Hannigan who finished in 6th place overall in 2.48, an excellent time for Daniel.
Picture of the day had to be four Lifford athletes crossing the line together, Martin Devenney dipping for the line in 3.13 just ahead of team mates Eddie Kelly, Maurice Sharkey and Paul Kelly. There were personal bests all round with some athletes taking part in their first marathon.
Lifford AC’s young athletes had an excellent day at the Ulster Childrens Games and the U12&13 in Stranorlar on Sunday. The club had 22 athletes taking part and two relay teams also involved. Of the 22 taking part, 12 have qualified for their respective All Irelands, a brilliant return from these young athletes, with several others narrowly missing out.
A long day with most there from 9am and some not getting away until nearly 7pm. There were some great performances with athletes involved across 50 events. The qualifiers from the day for the All Ireland Childrens Games at the end of the month were Alisha Cuskelly and Shania McMonagle both in the Under 9 60m and 300m, Oran Gallagher and Patrick Sweeney in the Under 9 Long Jump, Oran Gallagher and Diarmaid O’Donnell in the Under 9 300m, Aine Marie McBride&Adrienne Gallen in the U10 long jump, and Lennon Lafferty and Ben Connolly in the Under 11 Long Jump.
Individual medallists in these age categories were Alisha Cuskelly, 2nd in the 300m and 3rd in the 60m; Oran Gallagher, 2nd in the Long Jump and 2nd in the 300m; Lennon Lafferty, 3rd in the Long Jump. Individual medallists and qualifiers in the U12&13 categories were Niall Quinn, 1st in the 60m and 3rd in the 600m, Ryan Stewart, 2nd in the Shot Putt and 3rd in the Turbo Javelin and Olivia Cuskelly, 3rd in the Turbo Javelin. Just missing out on qualification for the All Irelands in 5th was Wilson Craig in the Turbo Javelin.
Our Under 11 relay team qualified for the final and were ran out of All Ireland qualification but the young lads able to hold their heads up high. Involved were Rian McKinney, Eoin Breslin, Odhran Stewart, Ben Connolly and Lennon Lafferty.
Well done to all our young athletes who took part on Sunday. For those who missed out on medals or qualification, what matters at these young ages is the taking part and the medals will come with time. Unfortunately for several of our Under 9-11 athletes they did not have a partner in their respective events and so regardless of their performance could not have qualified for the All Irelands.
Other competitors on Sunday included Kiera Green, Connor Gibson, Cormac O’Donnell, Cara Doherty, Caoimhe Lynch, Eoin Breslin, Rian McKinney, Odhrán Stewart, and Maura Sweeney.