The 26th running of the highly respected and prestigious Armagh International Road Races took place on Thursday night. The event is gaining in popularity and in quality with this years’ number of mens sub 15 minute 5K runners increasing to 67 from the 2015 total of 56. 29 ladies also went under 10 minutes for their 3K race.
North Down had 15 athletes in attendance competing in the junior races, ladies 3k and mens 3k and 5k.
John McNally was our only junior athlete and ran in the junior boys race before the senior races. (Results to follow)
Jessica Craig was our first finisher in the ladies 3k in 34th, amongst a sprinkling of international athletes, nudging ever closer to the 10 min mark with a time of 10:05. 4 places behind was Rachel Gibson with a quality time of 10:18. Youngsters, Nia McNally – 2nd Under 18, Jessica Scott and Anna Scott followed and succeeded in winning the junior prize. Collectively the girls won the womens team prize also, making it a rewarding evening. Well done girls.
Two of our senior athletes in the form of Michael Dyer and Dennis Scott took on the elite runners in the mens 5k, where entry was exclusive to runners who had performed under 17 minutes. In what is touted as one of the fastest road races in the world Michael completed in 15:28 and Dennis 16:16. Two very admirable efforts.
In the last race of the night, the mens 3k event, we had our largest number of entries. Craig McMeechan continued his good form with an impressive success. Leading through the bell onto the final lap Craig led alongside Donore Harriers athlete Daragh Fitzgibbon, with Craig pushing on in the final kilometer to win the race in a pb time of 8:47. Francis Marsh – 1st O50 was next in followed by Jamie McMeechan and Darren Hamilton all finishing under 10 minutes for the trip. Nick Irvine, Craig McDermid, Thomas Patterson and James McCaughey also hot footed it around the mall to complete the North Down line up.
http://www.nirunning.co.uk/Armagh%20International%202016%20-%20Mens%205k-1.xlsx
http://www.nirunning.co.uk/Armagh%20International%202016%20-%20Ladies%203k-1.xlsx
http://www.nirunning.co.uk/Armagh%20International%202016%20-%20Mens%203k-1.xlsx