Posted Date: 06-Aprr-2009 Mon

Helena Crossan powered her way to an 11 minute victory in the Celtic International 100k road race in Salthill, Co. Galway on Saturday last. The event, which also incorporated the Irish championships had runners from Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland competing. Crossan ran 8 hours, 11 minutes and 04 seconds for the 62.2 mile ultra-distance event. While this time was some 19 minutes outside her own Irish record, she was comfortably inside the ‘A’ qualifying standard of 8 hours and 45 minutes for the World Championships to be stages in Belgium in June. In the process, Crossan became the first Irish woman to win the Celtic 100km race and confirmed her status as the best ultra-distance runner in the country at the moment.

Meanwhile, on Sunday week last, David Mc Laughlin from Rasheeny and Aine Bradley from Clonmany competed for Donegal in the UK Sportshall finals in Birmingham. Aine recorded a personal best of 6.49m in the shot putt and also competed in the 2 lap race and the parlauf relay. She just missed qualification for the parlauf final following a good third place finish in the heats. Overall, the under 13 girls team finished a very creditable sixth overall. David Mc Laughlion helped the boys team to a well deserved fourth place overall with strong performances in the high jump, 2 lap race and obstacle relay.

The first race of the Donegal Grand Prix will be the North West 10km on Sunday 3rd May at 3 pm in Letterkenny. Inishowen A.C. will stage the Culdaff 1 mile and 5km road race on Friday 15th May. The juvenile 1 mile for 11-16 year olds will take place at 7.30pm with the 5km getting underway at 7.45pm. All levels of walkers, joggers and runners are welcome to take part.

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. There will be no training this Thursday for 8-12 year olds as there will be a presentation party from 7-8 pm in the Coffee Dock in Carndonagh Community School. Training for post-primary school athletes takes place every Thursday also in Carndonagh Community School from 3.20-4.45.