The Dune half marathon kicked off this season’s half marathon series on Sunday and was raced between the Quays shopping centre in Newry and Market Square in Dundalk. North Down had a number of runners in the race, some returning to the series after claiming prizes in their age categories last year.
Colin Walker was one such winner and was first ND athlete home recording 1:28:24 which placed him 51st. Philip Mulligan, in marathon training mode, was rewarded with a PB of 1:34:29 and 108th, and Alan Massey returned from last year’s series success with 149th place and 1:37:44. Chris Downey was next in 1:38:42 giving him 171st place before Michael Stevenson finished in 1:45:34, 279th. Paul Galloway covered the course in 1:48:37 which provided him with 315th position and our only female athlete, Cara Jeffrey running the course for the 3rd time, clocked 1:52:11 and 387th. Pat O’Driscoll rounded off the club’s entries with 2:32:33, 744th.
In a busy weekend of racing we also had athletes participating in Downpatrick and Athlone.
David Massey felt obliged to run the senior race at the East Down organised Rollercoaster 5k in Downpatrick after daughter Hollie ran in the junior race. Hollie recorded an excellent 2nd place finish in the 13 & under race, 9 seconds behind the winner. David then went on to finish 7th overall in the senior race and 2nd O40 and in a respectable 19:06 over the undulating course.
On Friday 10th February the AIT arena in Athlone hosted the prestigious Irish Universities Indoors Track and Field championship. Adam McComb, representing University of Ulster, finished 3rd in the 400M clocking 48:89 in what was a class field, the race won by Irish International Thomas Barr.