[Not a valid template]There was a good solid all-round performance by the club teams at the Wallace Park Road Relays on Saturday. Jordan Stokes, Brian Barron and Matthew McMullan were 2nd in the U16 Boys event; John Carlisle, Niall Robinson and Michael Patterson were 2nd in the U19 event. At Senior level Jessica Craig. Nicola Simpson and Lauren Scott were 4th in the Womens Relay while the Mens Team were 3rd from James Budde, Francis Marsh, Nicklas Arkensparr and a return from John Carlisle. There was also a Mens “B” Team featuring Thomas Simpson and repeats from Brian Barron, Niall Robinson and Michael Patterson
[Not a valid template]Jordan opened for the under 16’s 3 x 1107m race against a very strong Lagan Valley outfit and with 3:14 min ran the third fastest leg of the race and was in second place. This was maintained by Brian and Matthew with 3:19 and 3:29 min. John led the new look under 19 team which was a similar scenario against the holders St Malachy’s over 3 x 2214m. After a cagey opening leg with nothing between the field it came down to to a sprint finish with John second in 6:38 min, fourth fastest on the day. Niall could not improve but with 6:41 min consolidated the team in second place and with 7:13 Michael held off the chasers.
[Not a valid template]The women’s race was 3 X 2200m. Lisburn benefited from the superb opening leg of Ciara Mageean, who clocked the fastest time of the day in 7.01min and they were never headed after that Jessica was faced with a very fast opening field and was 8th across the line but importantly with a respectable 8:33 min, she left the team in contention Nicola ran 5:24 min and was fourth across the line but anything better was too much and Lauren maintained fourth with 8:39 min.
In the men’s 4 x 3321m race, Abbey got away to a flyer and were never headed. It was a tussle behind and for North Down James timed a great late run to take a close third in 10:03 min, the day’s fourth fastest. Francis shadowed the North Belfast runner for almost three laps but won the final sprint to leave the team second in 10:07 min, fifth fastest overall. North Belfast returned the favour in the third leg and with 11:12 min was third, a position maintained by John with 10:59 min. The men’s ‘B’ team of Thomas (12:10), Brian (11:37), Niall (11:50), and Michael (11:45) finished 9th in a time of 47:22.