Another successful week for Dromore Athletics Club

The Ulster Schools Track and Field Championships were held over two days on Friday and Saturday at the Antrim Forum.

The Friday evening finals saw Ryan McDermott (SERC) win his first Ulster schools track title with a fantastic performance in the senior boys 5000m final.

Ryan dominated the race from start to finish over the 12.5 laps, leading for a few laps then sitting in when his rivals tried to lift the pace, then made his own move with five laps to go to pull clear of the pack to come home a clear winner in 15m47s.

In the same race triathlete Russell White (Banbridge Academy) had a brilliant run to finish sixth in 16m23s to taake over a minute off his previous best.

Next day on the sun drenched track more excellent performances were on show; although just missing out on the medals all the athletes produced personal bests with their super runs.

There were three girls from the club in the junior girls 800m final with Caragh Milligan (Friends) leading them home in fourth place in 2m22.4s (PB) followed closely by Maria Kincaid (Our Ladies) fifth in 2m22.6secs (PB) and Laura Greer (Hunter House) sixth in 2m 26s (PB).

Victoria Kincaid (Our Ladies) matched these girls with her great run in the junior girls 1500m final, finishing fourth and also in a PB time of 5m11s.

Closer to home a large group of athletes headed up the carriageway for the Bann 10K and fun run, returning home with a share of the spoils and again excellent performances from all those taking part.

The womens race turned out to be another successful one for Julie Turley as she won the Newry City Runners 5K race seven days previously. This time over a testing course she set her stall out from the gun, hitting the front where she stayed all the way to come home in top spot with her outstanding run in 37m 45s.

More prizes and cracking runs came from her team mates in the womens race with Aine McNeill taking first O40 in 46.39.

Kim McDonald was first O45 in 54.06 with Sharon Reid second in the same category in 55.26.

They were well supported with great runs from Diane McKee (47.21), Wendy Fleming (48.44), Caroline Nelson (49.50), Jill Gilliland (49.58), Helen McCartan (50.17) Tina Davies (52.05) and Annette Blaney (55.27).

Brian McKee had a great run for seventh overall in the mens race and first O45 in 35.31 with Seamus McKeown picking up first O60 in 49.56.

There were other very good performances from Nigel McKibbin (37.38), David Allen (49.01), Ian Bates (51.01), Harry Mitchell (52.07) and Stewart Mitchell (53.33).

Timothy McCracken had a great run in the fun run, taking third in the boys race in 15m 18s with more good performances from David Cantley 18th in 18.15 with younger brother Robin 38th in 21.16 and Benjamin McKibbin 40th in 21.25.

Rebekah Nixon had an excellent run on the night to finish fourth in the girls race in 18.15.