Donald Smith, World Marathon Day Marathon, Armagh
26th February, marks a significant day in the calendar for marathon runners – International World Marathon Day when runners are inspired to run 26.2 miles on 26/2. This year’s local offering was in Armagh where the course began at a corner of the Mall, but carefully avoided the fast, flat laps that saw so many speedy runners achieve superb 5k times at the international races 2 weeks ago, instead heading out for 4 undulating loops of the countryside returning to the Cathedral City each time against a strong headwind down the Loughgall Road. North Down AC’s Donald Smith finished second in the marathon in 3:36:13.
Flahavan’s Primary School XC
The final of the Flahavans cross country series for primary school children took place on Friday 28th February at Mallusk.
In the girls’ race 3 of North Down AC’s junior runners were representing Toweview Primary School; Rose Reavy was 46th, Molly Rankin 60th and Alani Santos 102nd.
In the boys’ race Daly Seaton was 5th, Robin Anderson 11th, Ben Dumigan 21st and Casey Seaton 22nd. Daly and Casey go to Glencraig, Robin is at Grange and Ben at Towerview.
Daly (P6) and Casey (P4) were both competing against older runners.
Robin Anderson, Casey Seaton, Daly Seaton
Sarah Gibson, Carlingford Half Marathon
Sarah Gibson was the club’s sole runner in the picturesque Carlingford Half Marathon on Sunday 1st March. On the first official day of spring runners enjoyed excellent running conditions as they tackled the hills of the Cooley Peninsula and tried to enjoy the views of the Mournes and Carlingford Lough. Sarah finished the half in an excellent time of 1:29:10.
NI & Ulster Juvenile Indoor Championships, Athlone
North Down AC was well represented at the NI & Ulster uvenile Indoor Championships in Athlone over the weekend of 1st and 2nd March with several junior athletes achieving PBs, podium spots and overall championship wins!
Sophie Rankin had an excellent weekend winning the U14G 800m in 2:29.94 and the U14G 1000m walk in 6:25.17 to become NI & Ulster Champion at both events. She also took 7th place in the long jump with a best jump of 3.55m.
Nyla Hughes was 3rd in the U15G triple jump, covering 8.97m and 6th in the long jump with a best of 4.20m.
Caoimhe Fenlon also had an excellent weekend participating in 3 events, winning medals in all 3 and setting 2 new PBs in the process; she was 3rd in the U16G high jump with a best clearance of 1.40m. In the 60m hurdles she was 3rd again with a PB of 10.04 and she rounded off the weekend with a 10.05m shot put PB to take 2nd place. Her North Down team mate, Emma Reid was 3rd in the shot, throwing 9.97m.
Caoimhe Fenlon 2nd & Emma Reid 3rd U16G SP
In the U17 competitions Tomas Montgomery was 2nd in heat 1 of the 200m in 24.56. Although he improved his time in the final shaving 0.18s of his heat time he finished 4th, just 0.03 seconds behind 3rd place with a PB of 24.38. Tomas went on to win the U17B 400m in 55.89.
Cameron McCracken also had another superb weekend winning the U18 long jump in 6.06m, the 60m in 7.04 (PB) and the 60m hurdles in 8.19, becoming a triple Ulster & NI champion.
Ben Kirk was 2nd in the U18B 200m in a PB of 23.44. He had a DNF in his 400m heat while NDAC team mate Curtis Hughes ran 52.32 for 3rd in his 400m heat, going on to take the silver medal in the 400m final in 51.49.
North Down AC’s Cameron McCracken, Ryan Hamilton, Tomas Montgomery and Ben Kirk won the u18B 4x200m relay in 1:39.43 while the U19B team comprising Daniel Constable, Curtis Hughes, Josh Liggett and Matthew Knight were 2nd in their 4×200 in 1:40.04.
Matthew Knight was 3rd in the U19B 200m in 24.44 (PB). He went one place better in the 400m finishing 2nd in 54.34.
East Coast AC junior XC
The second round of the East Coast AC’s junior XC races was held in the grounds of Larne Grammar School on Sunday 2nd March.
Harrison Mair was 1st in the minor boys’ 1300m race in 5:20 while Reeya McQuillan was 13th in the girls’ race where she was the youngest competitor against a field with an age spread of 4 calendar years.
In the 1750m junior races Sophie Rankin continued her wining ways this weekend taking 1st place ahead of club mate Eve Sloan 8:25 in 3rd while Sebastian Mair was 2nd in 6:45 in the senior boys.
Caitlyn Dickenson was 2nd in 7:34 with Freya Lowry 4th in 7:57 in the senior girls’ race. Sebastian Mair was 2nd in the senior boys’ race in 6:45.
Reeya McQuillan
Jessica Craig, Lusk 4 Mile Road Race
At the annual 4 mile road race in Lusk on Sunday 23nd March Jessica Craig finished 3rd female and 20th overall from a field of 870 runners in 21:09.
Jacob Sullivan, Brighton Half Marathon
North Down AC’s Valeria and Jacob Sullivan headed to the East Sussex seaside in Brighton for the annual half marathon on Sunday 2nd March. Starting and finishing along the sea front, past the piers the course took runners past the Royal Pavillion climbing up to Roedean before runners dropped from the cliff back to the promenade and the finish. Jacob completed the course in a new PB of 1:43:05 and Valerie finished in 3:16:39.
Paul Floyd & Helen Byers, Tokyo Marathon
2 of North Down AC’s multiple marathon finishers were in Japan on Sunday 2nd March for the Tokyo Marathon. Both Helen Byers and Paul Floyd even took time out of their final marathon preparations to run the Futakotamagawa parkrun in the city on Saturday. Although he’s completed more than 100 marathons, this was Paul’s first ever parkrun! In addition to the logistical challenges and excitement of travelling to the Tokyo Marathon, both Helen and Paul were running their sixth and final marathon in the Abbott World Marathon Majors, having already completed the London, Berlin, New York, Chicago and Boston Marathons. Helen battled injury to finish Tokyo in 4:00:02 while Paul ran 3:04:47. They join an exclusive group of North Down AC 6 star finishers alongside Darren Hamilton, Noreen McCausland and Cliff McCausland.
