Run the Runways

Friday evening saw local athletes head to Newtownards for the Run The Runways 5 and 10k hosted by Scrabo Striders. This is a flat, fast race and if conditions are good, some great times are on the table. In the 5k race EDAC had two runners Adam Morgan and Wayne Giles joined 305 runners on the start line for this event. With the sun beating down on the airfield Adam looking for a good time went for it and will be pleased with his time and position of 19 min 53 sec and 28th spot. Again Wayne Giles will be happy with his evenings work clocking 26 min 43 sec in 163rd position. In the 10k Leanne Spick took on 154 athletes in the longer distance which takes in a number of laps of the runways, and Leanne will be pleased with her time in warm conditions of 47 min, 50th position. Well done to all at this well organised event.

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Alex Robinson ran for the Northern Ireland U15 school team on Saturday 20^th April in the British Athletics Road Championships. His race was the one of a number of races in the London Mini Marathon where the best young athletes in the country get to compete against each other. He was selected on the back of his performance at the Ulster School Cross Country Final earlier in the year when he was competing against fourth and fifth years. As well as the championship races up to 14,000 children and young people run, walk, jog or push their way around either a one-mile or 2.6K course around St James’s Park in central London. 

The Mini London Marathon was first held in 1985 and took place on the same day as the full London Marathon. In 2022 to make it more accessible it became a standalone event and now takes place the day before the London Marathon.

The Mini Marathon championships has given the UK’s most promising young athletes the chance to compete against the best new talent in British road running. Over the years, the event has launched the careers of international athletics stars including Laura Muir and Josh Kerr. Sir Mo Farah won the Mini Marathon three times. 

Alex’s race was over the same last 2.6km as the main marathon route and passed in front of Buckingham Palace before finishing on the Mall. There was a mad dash at the start and the finish line came sooner than expected. It was an honour to race against the best the UK has to offer at his age and he was pleased with his 8.44 time given his nerves.

McGrady Cross Country Presentations 2023

The McGrady race series was celebrated at the series prize giving held last Monday night at East Down clubrooms. The ethos of the series is enjoyment and everyone who participated is celebrated. Kids who ran in three out of the four races received a slate participation medal as they are seen as the backbone of the series and deserve to be congratulated.

Participation prizes were given to  Amber Keown, Alice Taylor, Isla Taylor, Rory Kinsella, Oscar Keown, Aoife Gilchrist, Annie Canavan and William Taylor,.

Of course with any series there are also winners. EDAC had their fair share of the podium places.

Category podium winners were:-

First place trophies were awarded to Orlaith Keary (Primary 7), Alex Robinson (Year 11/12), Sarah Gilchrist (Year 11/12) and Jacob Crawford (year 13/14).

Second place trophies  were awarded to Coen Canavan (P4 & under), Mack Canavan (Primary 6 joint winner with Rossa McAleenan), Tarynn Smyth (Primary 6 joint with Eve Harrison), Dillon Hynds (Year 8), Jarlath Price (Year 8), Thomas Magee (Year 11/12), and Charlotte Barr (Year 11/12)

Third place trophies were awarded to Willow Keown (Primary 4 & under), Fiadh Kellett and Rosa Canavan (joint Primary 5), Maria Rooney (Primary 7).

The primary 7 girls’ team (Orlaith Keary, Maria Rooney, Alice Taylor and Isla Taylor)  also won the primary school award for the greatest participation numbers in their category..

So another series has drawn to a close. Thanks must be given to all the parents who cover the volunteering rota throughout the year, helped at the hosted EDAC hosted races at Delmont, and bring the kids to training to ensure they are able to complete. Also thanks to our loyal coaches who give up their time to take training weekly. Finally thanks to the continued sponsorship from McGrady Financial Services.

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Now that the cross-country season is truly over the track season has begun in earnest. This week saw the start of the first of the secondary school district rounds, District A, held at Mary Peter’s Track. Wednesday was the turn for senior and Intermediate school pupils (Years 4 to Upper six)

The events are broken down on school years with the Inter category combining years four and five and the senior category combining Lower and Upper six pupils.  Depending on the distances and  numbers entered in each event, the track races were either held as straight finals or  pupils had to progress through semi-finals to run finals later in the day.  At the time of writing the report no results are known.

East Down had five participants across the events; four were competing for Down High School-(Charlotte Barr, Jacob Crawford, Alex Robinson, and Oliver Robinson) and one for Assumption Girls School  (Anna Gardiner).

Oliver Robinson decided to try both the 400m and 800m senior races so he was glad that the 400m was a straight final. He ran a well-placed race in lane one but needed to slow down approaching the finish line because the blocks had not been removed and one of the officials was standing in his lane. He placed second and acknowledged that the presence of the blocks would not have changed the result. He was disappointed with his 800m race finding his legs very heavy from the 400m. 

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