Great weekend fro LAC athletes

February 2010

Letterkenny AC’s Mark English continued his impressive form at the weekend when setting a new Irish junior record of 1.50.67 to win the U20 800m indoors at the Celtic Games International in Cardiff.

The teenager, who won bronze in the national indoors two weeks ago, also ran fast enough to secure the qualifying time for the World Junior Track and Field Championships (1.51.10 mins) that will take place in Canada later this year. His club mate, Darren McBrearty, placed third in the senior race at the same venue over the same distance when clocking 1.51.65.

Tir Chonaill AC’s Mary McLoone won the triple jump at the Games with 11.94 metres and took second place in the long jump with a leap of 5.80 metres. Letterkenny AC coach, Teresa McDaid, was part of the Irish management team over the weekend.

Closer to home in Boyle, Co Roscommon, Letterkenny and Donegal masters men’s teams both took team gold in the cross country championships.

Letterkenny’s Kieran Doherty was placed second overall (17:30) and first over-35 with his team mate, Pauric McKinney, placing fourth (17:33). Brian Thursby Pelham (18th in 18:29) and Johnathon Patton completed the scoring team for Letterkenny (24th in 18:35), with Kieran Carlin of Finn Valley (15th in 18:24) and Inishowen’s James Browne (32nd in 18:54) making up the winning Donegal team. The Letterkenny team had good support from Neil Faulkner (42nd in 19:13), Gary Crossan (72nd in 19:51), Hugh Gallagher (135th in 21:47), Aidan McKenna (146th in 22:10) and Pauric Kelly (148th in 22:13) The masters title was won by Peter Matthews of DSD (17:17), with John Downes of Donore placing third (17:31). Letterkenny won the team with 48 points, from DSD on 86 and Tullamore Harriers on 90.

The Donegal masters women’s team secured bronze medals - the scoring team comprised the Finn Valley trio of Kay Byrne, Catherine Brogan and Marian Browne and Letterkenny’s Margaret Kelly.

There was no winner of the club's lotto jackpot on Saturday night. The numbers drawn in the Glencar Inn were 11, 18, 20 and 24. The four match two winners were mark Bolton, Louise Finnegan, Brian Wilson and Sidney Hunter.