Finn Valley AC Notes 3rd February 2025
The week just gone was a rollercoaster of performance and competitions most prominently abroad, in the USA, Belgium, Scotland, England and Spain. The Donegal Sports Star Awards on Friday night held particular interest for Finn Valley AC as there were a number of nominees for what is the biggest sporting occasion in Donegal annually. Patsy McGonagle received the Hall of Fame award, Odhran McBrearty (Secondary School Boy), Mark McGinley (Triathlete award), Elsie Friel (Para Athlete award) and the Ní Ghallachóir twins Molly and Katie with the Primary School Girl Award. The Athletics Award went to Mark English, collected on his behalf on the night by his mother as Mark is currently based in the USA where he is racing over the next few weekends at a number of major meets. Mark competed on Sunday night in Boston at the New Balance Grand Prix in a world class field over 800m, finishing 5th in a time of 1.46.82 a race won by current world 800m champion Bryce Hoppel. Mark now remains in the USA and will be on the start line in the Millrose games in New York next weekend. He is targeting the European Indoor Championships and qualification for same which will be held in Appledoorn, Holland next month.
The previous evening Oisin O’Gailín was competing over 3000m in the Boston University Terrier Classic. Again he ran sub 8 minutes, returning a time of 7.59.31. Oisin will race in the next few weeks over the same distance in Chicago, as he also is chasing qualification for the European Championships.
Sommer Lecky, current National High Jump Champion, who had competed last weekend in France finishing with a jump of 1.78, was in Agent on Saturday in a world athletics indoor tour Bronze level meet, clearing 1.75m on this occasion to finish third.
In the USA Eimear McCarroll, now back at her University base at Bradley University having spent the Christmas back at home, she was engaged in a mile event at Notre Dame in which she returned a pb of 4.48.61. This is an encouraging outing, as she begins to continue to adapt to the heaving training load at her University.
Finn Valley AC young walkers Leah O’Gara and Aoife McGranaghan were on the road once again, this time in Guadix, Granada in Spain, Leah competing over 5k and Aoife over 3k. Leah faired really well in what was an international calibre event, returning a time of 26.11 to finish 3rd in the U18 event. Starting slowly over the first 2k, she brought a very strong competitive edge to the final 3k, which bodes well in terms of her competitive attitude. While Aoife, competing over 3k U16 once again returned a pb. Both girls continue to progress and will have gained immensely from this experience.
Further good news over the weekend was the return to competitive action of Nuala Bose who won the U23 category at the Murcia Half Marathon in a time of 84.48 and to add to the occasion, joined with her mum Anne Marie who also competed, her time 1.41.36. It’s certainly good news that Nuala, a student at Maynooth University, is back competing as she was a key member not so long ago of our junior women’s European Championship Cub team.
Across in Liverpool, Jon Jo Doherty was competing in the Liverpool and Districts Cross Country Championships again finishing 2nd which in fact left him disappointed as he had higher ambitions but he did describe his run as possibly the best so far this winter. He now will look forward to the National Master Cross Championships in Westport.
Late on Sunday evening at the EAP Track and Field Meet in Glasgow, Arlene Crossan had her first outing of the season over 400m set a new Donegal and Finn Valley AC record of 55.35. This time raises the previous best by Donegal athlete Kelly Mc Groary in 2019 which stood at 55.74. Arlene and her coach Shauna Carlin feel that she can run 54 + indoors this winter but this, no doubt, come will come with another series of competitive outings to sharpen her up. She has trained extremely well in recent months and no doubt should have international ambitions.
Finn Valley hosted the Ulster District Schools Championships last week at the Finn Valley Campus welcoming schools from across the region. The venue stood up well, despite recent storms which didn’t help ground conditions. But at the end of the day, it was a successful event and the club were glad to host, working alongside St Eunan’s College and Loreto Convent Letterkenny.
The Athletics for Autism programme which is being held here under the auspices of Donegal Sports partnership and Healthy Ireland launched last Monday. This is an exciting project which has attracted a lot of interest and beyond the current programme, Finn Valley are committed to continue to deliver programmes to neurodiverse children, as it has become very clear that there is a serious demand and need out there. Details for forthcoming programme will be updated on Finn Valley AC Facebook page.
The dates for the local area primary schools athletes have been announced as May 6th and 7th with the county overall finals being held on May 31st. Further details from Ann Slevin 086 8679169 or [email protected]