Posted Date: 10-Mar-2009 Tues

Carndonagh athlete Shaun McLaughlin stormed to a new personal best of 3 hours, 15 minutes and 33 seconds in the Barcelona marathon in Spain on Sunday last. McLaughlin’s best going into Sunday’s race was just over 3 hours and 21 minutes which he set in Boston in 2006 ,so the Carndonagh based engineer was understandably delighted with his 7 minute improvement. Following a well deserved break in the coming weeks, Shaun will be back competing on the local road circuit over the coming months.

Carloine Kelly impressed with a creditable 23rd place finish in the senior girls race at the Ulster Schools cross-country championships held in Mallusk on the outskirts of Belfast on Wednesday last. In the junior boys’ race, Declan Donaghy finished a very respectable 50th over the 3.2 km course. The first year Carndonagh Community School student will have gained much from running at this level and is still eligible to compete in the same age group next year.

Five Inishowen A.C. athletes will represent Donegal in the Ulster Sportshall finals this Thursday. Kayla Farran, Nuala Bradley and Stephen Friel will compete at under 15 level, while Aine Bradley and David Mc Laughlin have been selected for the under 13 teams. The magnificent indoor arena in Magherafelt is the venue for the second round of the Ulster and Northern Ireland age group championships on Saturday 14th March. Ethan O’ Kane will compete in the under 12 boys 60m and long jump, while Darragh Kelly goes in the high jump, long jump and shot putt. In the under 13 girls’ competition, Aine Bradley will compete in the 60m, 600m, and long jump. Patrick Mathews will race in the under 16 boys 1500m.

Up-Coming Events

The annual Club presentation night for post-primary and senior athletes will take place on Friday 13th March at 8.00 pm in the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana. Training for all juveniles in the Buncrana area continues this Wednesday at the Leisure Centre from 7.00 – 8.00 pm. The Fit for Life and senior training continues every Tuesday from the Buncrana Leisure Centre at 6.30 pm. Athletics training for 8-12 year old juveniles continues this Thursday in Carndonagh Community School from 5.00 – 6.00 pm. Training for post-primary school athletes takes place every Thursday also in Carndonagh Community School from 3.20-4.45. See www.inishowenac.com for more details.