Buncrana 5k Report 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 on Wednesday evening, storming to a facile victory in spanking new course record figures of 14m 18s and Marina Campbell of host club City of Derry Spartans was an equally impressive winner of the womens race, posting a new PB of 18m 12s.
On a balmy evening 333 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 14m 40s course record as he sprinted through the finish area to claim a 100 Euro bonus on top of the winners cash award.
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 15m 06s clocking to clinch his third runners up spot of the series,, some 20 seconds ahead of his clubmate Keith Shields who was impressive in third.
M45 star Pauric McKinney of Letterkenny AC was fourth with 15m 30s; Foyle Valley’s M40 Cathal McLaughlin was a superb fifth in 15m 32s and the Spartans Paddy Doherty completed the top six in 15m 33s. 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 Spartans runners up quartet with Letterkenny third courtesy of McKinney 4th, Ivan Toner 12th, Garvin Walker 13th and Kevin Ferry 14th.
Marina Campbell caught early leader Christy Nittrouer, visiting from Texas and went clear over the second half of the race, posting her 18m 12s PB to win convincingly from the American who just about survived a late charge from Catherine Lilburn, the Texan clocking 18m 50s with the Spartan just one second in arrears. Campbell and Lilburn combined with 4th paced Miriam Bridge who continues to impress with a 19m 15s finish and Jackie McGinley, 6th in 19m 28s to give the Spartans the Womens team trophy. Foyle Valley led home by Martina McMullan 5th in 19m 16s were second with Inishowen third.
Category Winners
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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 16m 38s 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 20m 50s for the U20 award.
The popular Furey Insurances 5K series continues at Culmore on Wednesday night 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.