Posted Date: 01-Jun-2009 Mon

Inishowen Athletics Club athletes recorded a series of good performances at the County championships on Friday and Saturday last. The Finn Valley Centre in Stranorlar was the venue for the County Children Games for 9 to 13 year olds on Friday evening. Lee Mc Laughlin took gold in the boys under 9 300m, long jump and 60m. He rounded off a great evening with bronze in the ball throw. Darragh Kelly took gold in the under 12 boys’ high jump with a best of 1.18m and second in the long jump with a leap of 3.51m. Darren Donaghy clinched second in the under 10 boys’ long jump and second in the 60m. Fergus Cox finished second in the under 13 javelin and third in the long jump, while his sister Una took second in the ball throw and third in the 600m in the under 9 girls category. In the same age group, Sophie Doherty won the ball throw and finished second in the long jump. Other Inishowen athletes to perform well included Aidan Coyle in the 60m and long jump, Orla Mc Cracken in the long jump, ball throw and 600m, Matthew Mc Kinney in the 60m and long jump, Niamh O’ Raw in the 60m and 300m, Lauren Mc Keever in the 600m and long jump, Ethan O’ Kane in the high jump and 600m, Oisin Mc Gonagle in the ball throw and Riona Clancy in the 60m, and 600m.

Meanwhile, six Inishowen A.C. athletes competed in the County juvenile and senior/masters championships at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny on Saturday last. Dylan Mc Cusker showed his class in the under 16 boys high jump with victory in a personal best of 1.65m. Stas Drabtsheuski jumped to a personal best in the under 18 high jump with 1.55m. He went on to take gold in the javelin with 19.10m, and the long jump in 4.77m. The Carndonagh Community School student also took fourth in the shot putt with 7.19m. Declan Donaghy raced to a new personal best of 2 minutes and 32 seconds when taking gold in the under 14 boys 800m. The Carndonagh based athlete also took gold in long jump with a best of 4.36m and gold in the high jump with 1.25m. Donaghy showed his versatility by taking second in the 80m hurdles in 15.0 seconds. Patrick Mathews was a convincing winner of the under 17 boys 1500m in a lifetime best of 5.17. Earlier in the day, he ran 2.42 in the 800m. Kieran Devlin dominated in the under 18 boys’ long jump with victory in 5.35m. He also struck gold in the shot putt with a best of 8.19m. Devlin also finished second in the javelin with 17.23m and second in the high jump with 1.60m. Spanish athlete Jacob Sanchez finished third in the high jump with 1.50m. He also recorded bests of 16.04 in the javelin and 6.05 in the 1500m.

Sixteen runners from the Club took part in the Inter-Firms 5km road race in Letterkenny on Wednesday evening last. Joe Mc Kinney was the first Inishowen runner to finish with a time of 16.37. Patrick Doherty took gold in the masters 50 category with 17.50. Other performances included Martin Mooney 18.12, (personal best), Owenie Mc Kinney 18.45, Vinnie Hegarty 19.14, Shaun Mc Laughlin 19.21, Declan Cadwell, 19.32, Shane Doherty 20.04, Peter Mc Kinney 20.24, Mickey Donaghy 20.28, Charlie Mc Laughlin 20.41, Mickey Collins 20.42, Seamus McDaid 21.11, Breege Collins 24.42 and Susan Mc Grath 25.06. James Browne raced to a personal best of 28.21 in the Wilkie 5 mile road race on Wednesday evening also, while a day earlier, Eilish Bell ran a season’s best of 46.10 in the Maghera 10k. DCU student Karen Crossan finished second in a grade B mile race in Santry with a personal best of 5 minutes and 32 seconds. Inishowen Athletics Club extends it’s condolences to Evelyn Mc Ginley on the death of her father Eamon. May he rest in peace.

Up-Coming Events

The Furey Insurance 5k in Buncrana takes place this Wednesday 27th May at 7.30pm. This is followed by the Donegal Town 5k on Friday 5th June at 7.30 pm also. The Ulster Children’s Games for 9 to 13 year olds will take place on Sunday 7th June at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny starting at 10.30 am.