Local athletes in winning form

THREE venues, Omagh, Nenagh and London and it was success at all of them for local athletes over the weekend.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Apr 2010, 11:40 BST
Updated 1st Apr 2010, 11:41 BST

Nenagh in County Tipperary hosted the National Indoor juvenile championships and nine medals were brought Foyleside by young athletes from City of Derry Spartans and Olympian.

Spartans star was Ryan McParland with three medals, gold, silver and bronze. His gold came in the 60m hurdles, silver in the 60m flat and bronze in the long jump, all at under 16 level.

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Mark McGarvey in the under 17 grade came up with Double bronze in the 60m flat and 60m hurdles while under 15 Ciara Armstrong and under 16 Claire Dougherty both won silver in the 60m flat and high jump repsectively - Claire clearing a new personal best of 1m60cm.

Olympians John Coyle also struck sliver in the under 19 Triple Jump. Another Spartan, JP Williamson kept the silver streak going with a good run to medal in the under 19 1500m as the local contingent made their presence felt.

Staying with the indoor action and at the other end of the age range, Declan McCarthy grabbed bronze over 3000 metres at the British Masters championships in London's Lesa Valley Stadium. Running in the M45 age range the local accountant ran sub 10mins for a well deserved podium finish.

M50 Robert Bigger was unlucky to lose out in his 800m age group final, finishing a close up fifth and just out of the medals.

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Clonliffe Harrier Sergiu Ciobanu won the Omagh Half Marathon, on Saturday with a swift 67m 44sec clocking. Finishing ahead of Omagh harrier Stephen Duncan on 68m 38secs. There were almost 1200 finishers in this one, a record field, and Emmet McGinty fourth in 72m 15secs led home the sizeable local contingent who ran.

Letterkenney's Maria McCambridge was an impressive female winner in 75m 56secs. The Spartans mens trio of Emmet McGinty, his father Damien who won the M45 age category and Brendan Murphy combined to claim third team prize behind winners North Belfast Harriers and Clonliffe.

Looking ahead to the weekend and Saturday's Easter 5k in Gransha. Organiser Paula McGilloway promised another great event, the 5k starts at 11am and there is also a 1k fun run starting at 10.30am, so club runners and joggers will be made welcome.

Entries will be taken at Gransha from 9.45am for both events and there will be refreshments post race at the prize giving ceremony.

Related topics:LondonOmagh