Sittuk wins at Buncrana

LOCAL marathon star Greg Roberts Kenyan house guest, Freddie Keron Sittuk continued his domination of the local road race scene with a highly impressive Buncrana 5K victory last night (Wednesday), storming to a facile victory in spanking new course record figures of 14 minutes and 18 seconds and Marina Campbell of host club City of Derry Spartan’s was an equally impressive winner of the womens race, posting a new PB of 18 minutes and 12 seconds.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st May 2012, 11:29 BST

On a balmy evening 330 finishers were recorded as the Buncrana race, the third in the Furey Insurances 5K series, further enhanced its reputation as a top event in the local race calendar with club runners and joggers all very complimentary at the post race awards function. The huge turn out of spectators were royally entertained, lustly cheering home all the finishers as both the front runners and the down the field finishers all battled to the line.

The Kenyan added the Buncrana title to his Lisnagelvin victory three weeks ago and he also won over 5 mile in Belfast and 10K last weekend in Laois. He went clear from the gun, had about an 100 metre gap by the first kilometre and went on to smash Joe McAlister’s 14 minutes and 40 seconds course record as he sprinted through the finish area to claim a 100 Euro bonus on top of the winners cash award.

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Chasing behind him was the battling Scott Rankin, the Lisnagelvin runner up and overall series leader to date and the Foyle Valley man produced an excellent 15 minutes and 06 seconds clocking to clinch his third runners up spot of the series, some 20 seconds ahead of his club mate Keith Shields who was impressive in third.

M45 star Pauric McKinney of Letterkenny AC was fourth with 15 minutes and 30 seconds; Foyle Valley’s M40 Cathal McLaughlin was a superb fifth in 15 minutes and 32 seconds and the Spartan’s Paddy Doherty completed the top six in 15 minutes and 33 seconds and picked up the M35 age category award.

With Pius McIntyre 8th the Foyle Valley boys were emphatic winners of the Mens team prize and were delighted to recieve the new perpetual team trophy.

Colin Roberts 7th, James Brown 10th and Paul McCafferty 11th completed the Spartan’s runners up quartet with Letterkenny third courtesy of McKinney 4th, Ivan Toner 12th, Garvin Walker 13th and Kevin Ferry 14th.

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Marina Campbell caught early leader Christy Nittrouer, visiting from Texas and went clear over the second half of the race, posting her 18 minutes and 12 seconds PB to win convincingly from the American who just about survived a late charge from Catherine Lilburn, the Texan clocking 18 minutes and 50 seconds with the Spartan just one second in arrears. Campbell and Lilburn combined with 4th paced Miriam Bridge who continues to impress with a 19 minutes and 15 seconds finish and Jackie McGinley, 6th in 19 minutes and 28 seconds to give the Spartan’s the Womens team trophy. Foyle Valley led home by Martina McMullan 5th in 19 minutes and 16 seconds were second with Inishowen third.

The aforementioned Paddy Doherty M35, Cathal McLaughlin M40 and Pauric McKinney M45 were joined by the other Mens category winners, Domnic Bonner M50, Sammy McAnaney M55, Seamus McElhinney M60, Christy McMonagle M65, Willie John McLaughlin M70 and U20 Connor Doherty who set a new PB of 16 minutes and 38 seconds with a fine run.

Nicola Doherty was a good F35 winner on 19m 38s, Martina McMullan took the F40 category, Bridgeen Byrne the F45 and Vera Haughey was the top F50. Hannah McGowan ran a PB of 20 minutes and 50 seconds for the U20 award.

The popular Furey Insurances 5K series continues at Culmore on Wednesday, June 13th before returning to Inishowen on Wednesday, June 27th for the Carndonagh race. Both have the usual 7.30pm start times and entries will be taken on the night at each venue.

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While the Olympic Torch will be carried through the streets of the Maiden City on Monday many local athletes and officials will be in Antrim for the NI/Ulster Senior and U18/19/20 track and field championships. An unfortunate clash but with Provincial championship honours up for grabs the top local athletes will be heading to Antrim in search of honours.

Among the serious medal candidates will be Connor Bradley in the senior 1500m, Long Jumper Mary Devlin and teenage hurdler Mark McGarvey. Anna Barr should be another potential age group contender in the sprints and jumps while in the mens 5000m Declan Reed will hope to successfully defend his 2011 title.

With round 1 of the National League coming up on Sunday, June 10th the City of Derry and Olympian athletes will be keen to impress on Monday as the business end of the summer season beckons.

Elsewhere Jason Smyth will continue his quest to crack the Olympic 100m qualifying standard of 10.18 seconds. The Eglinton man will run in his Clermont, Florida base over the weekend hoping for favourable weather conditions and a classy field to boost his prospects of making the Irish team for London.