In a display of sheer determination and unwavering spirit, the members of Drogheda & District AC embarked on an yet another exhilarating week of running events with athletes participating in no less than seven events ranging from lightning-fast 5km local road races to gruelling 85km trail running in Austria.
Starting with last weekend at the highly anticipated Women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin, the incredible performances of the participants left spectators in awe. Fiona Kenna crossed the finish line in an impressive 41.52, setting a blazing pace. Carmel Keenan took home first place in her category, with a remarkable time of 43.22. Eimear Knowles followed closely behind, finishing strong at 44.01.
Jane Glynn, Yvonne Mc Mahon, Barbara Byrne, and Nuala Reilly also showcased their resilience, with outstanding times respectively and Nuala coming 2nd in her category. In a beautiful show of solidarity, these remarkable women stood together, offering unwavering support to one another throughout the race.
Far from home, in a testament to her extraordinary dedication to mountain running, Aoife Mundow proudly represented Ireland in the World Mountain Running Championships. The prestigious event spanned four days, taking place from Innsbruck to Stubai in Austria.
Aoife fearlessly took on the formidable long trail course on day 3, covering a staggering 87km with a challenging ascent of 6500m, starting in Neustift and finishing in Innsbruck. Her unwavering stamina and determination propelled her forward, leaving a lasting impression on her fellow athletes. Drogheda and District AC couldn’t be prouder to see Aoife showcase her talent and represent Ireland on such a remarkable stage.
Further north, Liam Farrell’s incredible journey led him to participate in the Helsinki City Half Marathon, where he achieved an impressive time of 1:55:40. Despite having recently participated in the Balbriggan 5K, Liam’s commitment to training paid off as he displayed remarkable endurance and determination on the Helsinki streets. The race culminated with a spectacular finish at the iconic Helsinki Olympic Stadium, where Liam crossed the finish line, embodying strength and resilience.
The Irish Milers Club Track and Field event held at UCD showcased remarkable performances from the athletes. In the 3,000m, Chris Keenan displayed his strength, finishing with an impressive time of 8.49. In the 800m, Kieran McGrath, Matthew O’Shea, Jordan Kelly, and Mark O’Shea demonstrated their speed and determination. Matthew emerged as the fastest runner with another outstanding time of 1.58.
DDAC members at the Brú na Bóinne 5K.
However, it was Jordan Kelly who stole the show with his exceptional race strategy. Leading from the start and sticking to the pacemaker, he looked poised for victory but was narrowly outkicked in the final stretch, finishing second with a season-best time of 2.01. The rest of the DDAC crew also delivered solid performances, with Chris Keenan fearlessly competing against some of Ireland’s best in the 3,000m, setting the stage for an exciting day of competition.
Closer to home we had a thrilling event that brought together members of Drogheda & District AC to participate alongside our recently established training associates the Termonfeckin Sanctuary Runners in the highly anticipated Glenmore Challenge Running Festival. The festival comprised four races – 5km, 10km, 10 miles, and a half marathon – each featuring a mix of flat stretches and hilly roads.
The participants displayed incredible support for one another, running together in an exhilarating atmosphere. Noteworthy performances included Ashling Reilly in 26.12 and Sharon Leslie in 26.18 leading the club in the 5km race, Vumi Ngwenya in 51.28 and Anwar Ali in 52.06 showcasing their speed in the 10km race, Andrea McArdle in 1.19.12 and Karen Delaney in 1.22.26 excelling in the challenging 10-mile race, and Guram Tabeshadz setting an impressive pace with a time of 1.37.58 in the half marathon.
Lastly, several of our athletes excelled in the Brú na Bóinne 5K taking place in the hilly and picturesque landscape surrounding the Newgrange passage tomb and visitor centre. Some notable performances came from Frank Brady in 26.05, Gerard Maher in 27.53 and an exciting class act from father Roger Ashwood in 32.08 and daughter Ciara Ashwood in 32.05 .
Further south a group of our athletes endured the multitude of participants at the exciting Irish Runner 5 Mile race with some notable performances coming from Paul MacArdle in a thrilling 41.24 in the M60 category and Hugh McDonnell in a robust 44.10 in the M65 category.
DDAC and Termonfeckin Sanctuary Runners at the Glenmore Challenge Running Festival.
