Busy week for Springwell Runners

The Boston bombing didn’t put the spectators off as they lined the streets supporting the athletes as they took on the 26.2 mile challenge.

African runners dominated the elite races with Kenya’s Priscah Jeptoo winning the ladies race in 2:20:15 and Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede overhauling 2011 champion Emmanuel Mutai in the closing stages for his second win in 2:06:04.

William O’Kane was the first Springwell Runner home in 3:23:00 followed by Linda Gillen 3:36:04(PB), Kenny Coulter 3:40:58, Hugh Deighan 3:46:54, Janeen McGregor 3:52:49, Alan McKeeman 3:55:30 and Robert Crown 4:34:00.

Springwell Junior Abigail McBroom represented Northern Ireland in the Under 13 Mini Marathon completing the three mile course in 20:07.

Four members of Springwell travelled to Buncrana on Sunday for the inaugural Inishowen Half Marathon organised by Inishowen AC and Buncrana Town Council. The runners set off from the Leisure Centre on the challenging and scenic 13.1 mile route finishing back on Buncrana Main Street.

Sergiu Ciobanu led the field home in 1:08:05. City of Derry’s Miriam Bridge was the first lady home in 1:33:00 closely followed by Springwell’s Ciara Toner in 1:33:19 with Sara Maria Doherty of the host club third in 1:35:39. David Jackson finished 11th in 1:23:34, Thomas Moore 1:29:30 and Catherine Bell-Allen 1:51:15.

Over 1200 runners took part in the Athletics NI organised Titanic 10K in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter on Sunday afternoon.

In blustery conditions, which were made worse by the arrival of rain showers, Stephen Scullion, Clonliffe Harriers (30:41) and Pauline Curley, Tullamore Harriers (36:27) took the major honours.

Bryan Edgar 38:03 was the first Springwell Runner home followed by Damian McKeown 40:29, Andrew Parkhill 42:18. Jean-Claude Bourgeois 42:39, Orla McGinnis 45:53, Mervyn Thompson 47:05, Gary Moore 49:51, Alison McAlister 49:54, Catherine Pinkerton-Moore 49:55, Caroline Taylor 53:42, Beverly Gordon 53:44, Catrina McNeill 53:59, Julie Clark 54:00, Ursula Harper 54:02, Rebecca Clarke 54:17, Jenifer Parkhill 54:19, Peter Boyle 54:19, Donna Brolly 54:47, Debbie Tutty 55:48, Lucinda Nolan 57:25, Angela Calderwood 57:34, Nikki Higgins 57:40, Margaret Edgar 57:40, Nicola Farrell 1:00:32, Aimee McFeely 1:05:54, Jackie McNeill 1:05:58, Alison Boreland 1:06;02 and Martina Scullion 1:07:50.

Eighty-four runners took part in the Portrush Parkrun on Saturday. Low tide left plenty of firm sand for the runners although a stiff breeze hampered them in both directions during the run.

Springwell’s Chris Denton (18:29) and Karen McLaughlin (21:32) where the first male and female runners to complete the 5K course.

Springwell Times - Andrew Dowey 20:31, Gary Watton 21:23, Ailbhe Kendall 21:28(PB), Jean-Claude Bourgeois 22:13, Robert Workman 22:32, Caroline Irwin 22:40(PB), Sonia Knox 22:47, Mervyn Thompson 22:57, Hermione Skuce 23:13(PB), Grace Postma 23:31, Rosilind Overend 23:43(PB), Jim Platt 24:26(PB), Kay Hack 26:19, Beverly Gordon 27:57(PB), Margaret Edgar 28:06, Conor Kendall 28:43, Angela Calderwood 30:04, Emma Patton 31:20(PB), Agnes Platt 36:19, Victoria & Abi Smyth 42:16, Stephen & Hannah Smyth 46:27, Ruairi Kendall 62:37.

Before the run Conor Kendall, Abi and Hannah Smyth received their Parkrun T-shirts for competing 10 Parkruns.

On Thursday evening, Lagan Valley AC hosted the first of their Power NI sponsored ‘Super 5’ meetings, at the newly refurbished Mary Peters Track in Belfast.  In wet conditions 300 plus young athletes ran, threw and jumped in the full glow of the new dazzlingly bright floodlights. 

Springwell had six junior athletes competing at the meeting.

Under 11 - Sean Deehan Long Jump 2.54m. Under 13 - Ben Nolan 1000m 4.37.24, Long Jump 2.65m; Thomas Nolan 1000m 4.41.32, Long Jump 2.70m; Jodie Patterson 100m 17.54, Shot Putt 4.02m. Under 15 - Long Jump Jamie Nolan 3.36m and Katie Green 3.27.

The newly upgraded Mary Peters Track was the venue for the Rising Stars Outdoor competition on Saturday 13 April. The Rising Stars are athletes 12-14 years old who are involved in Athletics NI’s Talent Development Initiative. They have been meeting with Athletics NI coaches to train throughout the winter and got the opportunity to put all they had learned into practice on Saturday.

The athletes competed in 4 events - Shot Putt, Long Jump, 100m & 800m.

Springwell had two junior athletes taking part in the scheme. Holly Woodhead 100m - 14.72, Shot - 4.43m, Long Jump - 3.16m, 800m - 2.43.10. Ellen Kirk 100m - 17.20, Shot - 4.79m, Long Jump - 3.14m, 800m - 3.04.83.

At the same meeting the Flahavans Junior Cross Country Squad raced over 1000m. David Faulkner 3.24.66 and Rebecca Wallace 3.30.80 won the two races.

Springwell representatives in the squad were Hermione Skuce 3.49.04, Ellie McBroom 3.53.97 and Eoghan Gormley 3.37.23.