Fit N Running athletes impress at cross-country

Twenty months into his fledging athletic career, Connor produced a performance with authority stamped all over it.

From the off, Connor was accompanied by top notch duo Luke Dinsmore from the host club and Willowfield’s Armanda Bamasile.

At 400m, the Fit N Running junior – wearing the yellow vest of parent club North Belfast Harriers – made an early move and quickly opened a 30-metre gap.

By the second mile of the three-mile course, Connor was well clear and looked superb as he stretched the lead to 33secs.

This was a gap he maintained as he broke the tape in 17mins 52secs with Dinsmore 2nd in 18mins 25secs and Bamisile filling the podium places in 19mins 46secs.

SENIOR RACE

In the senior men’s race, Mark McKinstry finished in 20th place in 29mins 33secs in a field laced with quality.

Making his debut on the country was relative newcomer Conor Shiels, who finished 52nd in 33mins 15secs.

PARKRUN

Promising junior James McKeown continues to impress 12 weeks after taking up the sport.

The gifted 13-year-old was in action at last Saturday mornings Ecos parkrun, and bettered his previous 5k time by 3mins 25 secs when he finished 10th in 22mins 20secs.

Seven days later, he was back on the same Ecos course to record another PB – this timfinishing in 22mins 5secs marking a 15sec improvement.

REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS

James Wallace received a welcome phone call this week, informing him that he will be in the starting line up of the Northern Ireland team for the forthcoming British and Irish masters cross country championships to be staged in Cardiff.

Meanwhile, Connor McQuillan will represent Ulster in the Irish under 16 boys’ cross country championships, having earned his place on the team with a top 12 placing at Rostrevor on Saturday.

Also in action at Rostrevor was Mark McKinstry, who finished 22nd in the male open in 29mins 17secs over the 8k course.