DERRY CITY TRACK CLUB ATHLETES IMPRESS IN FIRST WEEKEND OF 2015

MATT AND HANNAH OPEN NEW YEAR IN STYLE

Derry City Track Club athletes dominated the first parkrun of 2015 held in perfect running conditions for the time of year.  DCTC’s Matt Doherty was first across the line for the second time in a matter of weeks with Derry’s newest club putting all eight of its runners in the top 19 finishers. Organiser Tommy McCallion and his team were pleased to welcome 72 hardy runners to the event with many clearly wishing to burn off some of the excesses of the festive season.

Matt Doherty and Darragh Crossan

Matt Doherty was the first to hit the front as the field made its way toward the Peace Bridge with a phalanx of his club mates heading up the chasing pack. The 17-year-old was still at the head of affairs and coasting at the turn in St. Columb’s Park.  Doherty continued his homeward journey untroubled to cross the line 50 metres clear of his nearest pursuer in 17 minutes and 55 seconds.

Scottish visitor Gordon Reid was next home in 18:07 with DCTC’s Darragh Crossan showing a return of form to take third in 18:30. Four more DCTC athletes filled places 5^th – 8^th through James Brown (18:40 est.), Robert Bigger (19:01), Shaun Deery (19:03) and Steven Peoples (19:20).  Next home was Mal McCausland in 13^th with a new M60-64 age group record of 20:15. David Stewart rounded off the DCTC finishers in 19^th with a respectable 21:48 clocking.

DCTC athletes also monopolised the age-graded listings filling five of the top eight placings. Robert Bigger headed the table with an excellent 82.21%. McCausland’s age group record placed second with an 80.58% mark, one spot ahead of Gordon Reid (76.45%).  Matt Doherty was fourth on 76.35% ahead of McGirr (71.39) who edged out the first female finisher Catherine Whoriskey (71.27%) for fifth. Peoples (70.09%) and Crossan (69.73%) filled the remaining top eight places.

Hannah McGowan

There was further good news for Derry City Track Club with Hannah McGowan winning a medal at the Algarve Road Championships in Faro.  The Eglinton 20-year-old was training with her Dublin City University teammates in Portugal and took in the race as part of her training. She was pleased to learn after the 5.6km race that she had finished third in the U23 age group after going through the five kilometre mark in 20:07.

“I’m delighted to win a medal,” said Hannah. “It was totally unexpected.  The atmosphere at the race was brilliant. I knew I was in good form when I ran a personal best 20:01 in Stranorlar on Boxing Day but I didn’t expect this.”

Details: 1 Matt Doherty Derry City TC Age Group: JM-17, Time 17:55 (Age-Grading 75.35%), 2 Gordon Reid Kilmarnock Hrs VM40-44 18:07 (76.45%), 3 Darragh Crossan Derry City TC SM25-29 18:30 (69.73%), 4 Martin McGirr Acorns AC VM35-39 18:35 (71.39%), 5 James Brown Derry City TC M40-44 18:40, 6 Robert Bigger Derry City TC VM55-59 19:01 (82.21%), 7 Shaun Deery Derry City TC SM30-34 19:03 (68.24%), 8 Steven Peoples Derry City TC VM35-39 19:20 (70.09%), 9 Declan Murphy VM35-39 19:30 (68.46%), 10 Aron Cole VM40-44 19:52 (69.71%), 11 Peter Middleton SM25-29 19:56 (64.80%), 12 Aidan Devine Springwell SM30-34 20:02 (64.89%), 13 Malcolm McCausland Derry City TC VM60-64 20:15 REC (80.58%), 14 Catherine Whoriskey City of Derry Spartans SW25-29 20:46 (71.27%), 15 Sean Molloy Foyle Valley VM40-44 20:53 (65.84%), 16 Cahill Quinn SM30-34 21:25 (61.25%), 17 Joe McEvoy VM50-54 21:33 (68.45%), 18 Warren McIlmoyle VM35-39 21:44 (60.66%), 19 David Stewart Derry City TC VM45-49 21:48 (66.59%), 20 Niall McShane VM40-44 21:56 (62.23%).