Coleraine Campus 5k
On Saturday 23rd March the University of Ulster hosted three 5k races on flat, fast closed roads within the Coleraine campus with athletes selecting the appropriate race based on their 5k times to ensure stiff competition in each 5k. Ben and Pat O’Driscoll were in the first race with Ben finishing 7th in 21:46 and Pat, the oldest competitor in the event, claiming M75 honours in 31:16.
Rachel Gibson was 2nd lady and 17th overall in race 2 in 17:48.
The NDAC trio were able to complete their cool downs and watch the final race of the evening where an Annadale Striders trio claimed the podium spots with last week’s Queen’s 5k winners swapping position 1 and 2; Neil Johnson won in 14:14 while Brhane Gebrebrhan and Cameron Stewart both finished in 14:38.
https://www.championchipireland.com
Nicola Downey, Spar Western Cape Women’s Challenge, Cape Town
On Sunday 24th march Nicola Downey joined 14000 other women in the Western Cape Women’s Challenge 5k and 10k in Cape Town. Against the iconic background of Table Mountain Nicola ran in the 10k race and finished in 57:16, her fastest 10k for more than 4 years and 22nd/554 in her age group. Runners were treated to what must be one of the best goody bags anywhere – more akin to the weekly shopping trip than the usual sports drink and banana!
https://results.finishtime.co.za/results.aspx?CId=35&RId=4515&EId=1&dt=0&PageNo=1
Portadown Running Festival, 24/03/24
North Down AC were well represented at the annual 10k and half marathon races at the Portadown Running Festival on Sunday 24th March. Half Marathon runners ran a route from Portadown towards Gilford and back along the canal tow path with 10k runners following a shorter course to the tow path until both races finished in the People’s Park in Portadown.
Lisa Tomalin stormed to 3d place in the 10k, and 25th overall, in 42:46 while Marrion Beattie won her age group in 49:17.
Andy Lowry was the first NDAC athlete to finish the half marathon in 32nd place, dipping under 80 minutes for the first time in a new PB of 1:19:59. Steven Donegan also claimed a PB on his first race back from injury, finishing 42nd in 1:21:27. Simon Seaton was 50th in 1:22:35. Dougie Gordon 1:28:46, Claire Coey-Niebel 1:30:25, Matt Ormesher 1:43:28 and Paula Simpson 1:49:13 all ran strongly too.
James Graham wins Lisburn Duathlon, 24/03/24
The Lisburn duathlon was held at Down Royal racecourse on Sunday 24th March. Athletes ran 3k in the grounds of the racecourse before taking on a circular cycle route of @17k on local roads then quickly swapped their bikes and helmets once more for running shoes in transition to race the final 3k at the racecourse. North Down AC athlete James Graham racing for Peninsula Triathlon Club won the sprint distance triathlon by more than 1 1/2 minutes, posting the fastest splits of the day in both runs as well as the cycle, 11:03, 24:25 and 11:43 respectively, with swift transitions to win in 48:32.
