New Lifford track opening

The annual North West 10K road race from the Community Centre on Pearse Road Letterkenny on Sunday afternoon should attract the usual big entry.

It has a 2pm start with an expected mix of club and recreational runners from across Donegal and Derry set to toe the line.

Bank Holiday Monday sees the official opening of the Ben O’Donnell Athletics Arena in Lifford and an extensive programme of events for Juveniles, Seniors and Masters looks certain to produce some hot action.

Hopefully the conditions will be favourable and both the athletes and spectators can enjoy the proceedings which begin at 2pm with the Juvenile events and continue with a 5pm start for the Senior/Masters programme.

A series of graded Mile races should be a big part of the day with hopes of a first ever sub 4 minute mile on Donegal soil, one of the organiser’s wish list majors.

The Belfast Marathon is also a major Bank Holiday Monday attraction and the 9am start should see thousands of runners, including many locals in the line-up.

Kenyan Freddy Sittuk, well known in these parts, is reported to be in the mix for the podium places, he ran Belfast last year before spending some time in the North West and may well be repeating that itinerary again during May.

Back to the track and it’s the District Schools championships in Antrim on Wednesday. Athletes from the local Secondary schools will be chasing District honours and qualifying places for the Ulster championships, back in Antrim on May 16th/17th.

Local students have a good history at the Districts and Ulsters and while it’s still very early season, some success is again expected.

Beyond Wednesday it’s back to the roads with the first of two 5K’s in Ramelton set for Thursday evening at 7.30pm from the Aryhill School. Friday, May 9th it’s the Ballyshannon 5K also at 7.30pm and then on Sunday week, May 11th it’s back to Ramelton for another 5K.