ATHLETICS: Foyle Valley squads aiming ANI Cross Country titles

A busy weekend also includes the North West Tri Club’s 5K on Sunday morning and the National Indoor Senior Championships in Athlone with local athletes Scott Rankin and Naomi Morgan in action there.

The Foyle Valley male and female squads travel to Stormont on Saturday with the ANI Cross Country League titles firmly in their sights.

The Stormont meeting is the last of the nine strong League races which began in Comber last October and the local Valley squads have maintained a position among the leaders since then.

Consistently turning big numbers and scoring highly the purple vests look set to take the overall honours on Saturday, they do not necessarily need to win both team races as they have what looks like an adequate cushion over their nearest challengers.

Success on Saturday will be well deserved and they will be delighted to bring the League trophies back to the North West, local rivals City of Derry Spartans having won the first two men’s League championships.

Scott Rankin is entered in the 3,000m in the National Indoors this weekend and will be seeking to further impress away from the cross country slog.

The Spartan’s Naomi Morgan goes in the Women’s 60m Hurdles and Shot Putt as she develops her foray into becoming a serious multi eventer.

Letterkenny’s Anne Marie McGlynn will consider a 1,500m/3,000m double but may have to settle for one event given the programming and the demands of such a double.

There are two other races on Saturday, the Valley’s 5K Challenge in Ness Wood at 1pm and in Broughshane at 12noon, the new ABO Winds NI Raceview 10K road race, should draw some local interest.

Sunday also has the aforementioned North West Tri Club’s 5K at 11am and in Desertmartin at 10am the St Martins GAC 5K/10K.

Rounding up the Sunday options is the Mid Ulster 5K/10K at 12noon from the Meadowbank Sports Arena.