The hugely successful 5k series run and organised by the East Mayo Athletics Club came to an end on Saturday with the sixth and final run of the series taking place on home soil with Charlestown providing a fitting finale with the course geared very much towards speed and pace.
The committee had everything organised to a tee, in keeping with all the other races, with plenty of volunteers and committee members pitching in and helping out to make sure all bases were covered. They did a marvellous job with the series earning plaudits from far and wide with athletes, runners and joggers flocking in large numbers from all corners of the county and province to participate and lend their support for a wonderful initiative. Hats of to the committee for devising the idea and executing and this they did with aplomb with each and every one who took part in all the races, fulsome in their praise of the way the event was laid out with the online booking proving a real winner.
There was a super turnout for the final race and the following were the first five home in what was an ultra competitive event with the times posted a fitting tribute to the shape and conditioning of the participants who covered the route in breakneck speed which had to be seen to be believed:
1st James Frizzell (Galway City Harriers) 16.14; 2nd David Tiernan (East Mayo Athletics Club) 16.35; 3rd Conor McLoughlin (Moy Valley Athletics Club) 16.57; 4th Eoin McLoughlin (Ballina Athletics Club) 17.19; 5th Alan Dunne (East Mayo Athletics Club) 17.39.
Well done to Paula Donnellan-Walsh who was the first lady to cross the finish line clocking a time of 20.23 in the process which was a superb time closely followed by Caroline Coulter (Tireagh AC) who hit the tape in 20.51 with Jackie Fleming (East Mayo Athletics Club) crossing the line in 21.09 to round off a brilliant event that caught the imagination of all athletic and fitness enthusiasts far and wide.
All eyes now switch to the Charlestown 10k which the East Mayo Athletics Club have scheduled for Saturday, September 25, and judging by the comments and reaction already there’s sure to be another big turnout as training programmes are already being devised and plotted in readiness for an event that always attracts plenty of support from within and outside the community. For information on the event check out the excellent East Mayo Athletics Facebook page which contains regular and live updates and bulletins on all athletics matters and news in the community.