The Mayo AC Road League to kick off in Carramore in May
The Carramore 10k will be the first race in the 12th annual Mayo AC Road League. It will be held on Saturday evening May 15 at 6pm. Following many other road league races throughout the summer and autumn, the final race in the league series will be the Westport 5k on Sunday December 12 at 12 noon. The full road league schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.
Tooreen 10k
The Tooreen 10k run/walk takes place on Sunday April 25 at 3pm. Entries will be taken at Tooreen hall from 2.30pm. This is an accurately measured course and promises to be an enjoyable event for all. All funds raised will go to the local development fund. Further information contact Helen on 087-6716202.
Connemara marathon no challenge for Ballina athletes
Some 3,000 athletes descended on Connemara last weekend for the famous marathon festival. Twelve local athletes ran in the half marathon and full marathon events and there was delight in the club when two of the hard earned prizes were secured.
Teak tough Tom Horkan (Irish National marathon champion in the o65 category ) came first again in his age category in a time of 4:11:00. The two other club members in the full marathon were the marathon couple of Alan and Liz Murphy. In the half marathon, three Ballina AC ladies finished in the top 20 places and all recorded personal bests in the event. The first Ballina lady was Deirdre Lynn (1:46:02 ) followed very closely by Ann Egan (1:46:13 ). In the process, Ann Egan won the female o40 event in what has been a meteoric improvement year for her. Michele Reynolds was the third Ballina AC athlete in the top 20 having finished in 1:48:26. Former juvenile club coach Aoife Friel was next to finish in a time of 1:50:23 and this was her first half marathon. Other club members in the half marathon were Michelle Traynor (1:58:50 ), and half marathon debutantes Michael Egan (2:18:01 ), Evie Murphy (2:32:38 ), and Ann Marie Coleman (2:32:40 ). All have put huge effort into their preparation and will gain great confidence for future races. On the same day as the Connemara marathon, four other Ballina athletes took part in a famous 10 mile race in Kilnaboy, Co Clare. The extreme heat made this race very difficult but John O'Brien, Michael Courell, Gerry Heneghan, and Ann-Marie Courell all put in good performances.
