Just when they thought it couldn't get any better, it did, and noticeably so.  After the international exertions of East Down athletes over the past few weeks, newly crowned Irish Schools Cross Country champion James O'Hare took to the roads of Belfast on Wednesday night in the Queen's Round the River 5K race – and made a significant step up the elite athletes ladder, attracting favourable attention from hardened observers, as he claimed the scalps of Junior Cross Country champion Stephen Scullion and British Over 35 champion Dave Morwood, finishing second only to Irish International Gareth Turnbull. His time of 14.51 was just 7 seconds behind Turnbull's as he surged past St Malachy's  Thomas Frazer and Ryan Faulkner as well as North Down's Scullion inside the final 500 metres to issue a statement of his arrival in the big time.  If he can consolidate this sort of form he is surely a new star in the making.

Clubmate Liam Keenan was also on song with a super 18.06 to take 3rd in his Age Group with Michael McKeown 19.55  getting below the 20 minute mark and Declan Teague showing himself well recovered from Rome with a highly creditable 20.40. Colm McNeill made his seasonal debut and clocked 30.12 in a field of almost 700 runners.

Just to emphasise that the men don't hold a monopoly on talent, Aine McCann won the Junior Ladies title in 19.29 with Caroline O'Hare finishing well in 20.44 and Elaine Burch on 20.53.

The experience paid off for Liam as he followed up with another PB in Sunday's Titanic Quarter10K posting 37.19 over the flat though twisting course in the shadow of Samson and Goliath – this less than 2 years after he was recording in excess of 48 minutes for the distance!  And Declan continued the good work with a 42.53 time, another PB and Michael Degan was happy to record 50.29, improving by almost one minute his time in Jimmy's Ten. Michael McKeown meantime was plying his trade in Dublin in a high quality 10K in Phoenix Park, result as yet unknown, but pride of place though must go to Lisa Rice whose 67.47 was a full 6 minutes faster than her Jimmy's Ten time 3 weeks ago! Perseverance and a little confidence certainly pays off so come on you hesitant runners out there, wondering if you can do it – YES you can!

As the long distance men and women enter the final few weeks of their preparations for the Belfast and London marathons, next weekend's action is the Run Armagh 10k with a choice of two the following weekend, in Millisle and in Ballynahich for the Lions Club10K and Fun Run.



Joe Quinn

5 April 2009