Duo claim Dessie’s Run titles

Logan posted a 33 minutes and 3 seconds clocking to claim his first ever major road race victory with a two minute plus margin over Letterkenny man Gavin Crawford while the prolific McGloin ran 36 minutes and 11 seconds for another two minute plus advantage on City of Derry’s Marina Campbell who posted a 38 minutes and 23 seconds PB in chasing her home.

Both winners impressed although Logan probably would have liked some company up front as he literally lead from gun to tape and some competition could have pushed him comfortably below the 33 minute mark. Still a win is a win and Tuesday night’s effort will be a great boost in advance of next weekend’s Waterside Half Marathon.

Run in dry, warm conditions with a slight breeze the annual event attracted over 160 entrants with impressive turn outs from the Donegal clubs, Letterkenny. Inishowen and Lifford. Promoting club City of Derry were missing their bigger guns who had Athenry in their sights but with Foyle Valley also had good numbers in action.

The number of joggers and new runners was also impressive and the finish times ranged from Logan’s 33 minutes and 3 seconds to the final finisher on 64 minutes and 16 seconds.

Up front in the mens race Logan and Crawford were followed in third by another Letterkenny athlete Paul McGlinchey on 35 minutes and 16 seconds, as Kevin Ferry of Letterkenny was next and the top M35 on 35 minutes and 26 seconds.

Local Paddy Nicell was the first M45 with 36 minutes and 9 seconds in sixth; Letterkenny’s Adrian McKenna posted 38 minutes and 7 seconds for the top M40 finisher and was followed in 38 minutes and 20 seconds by Lifford’s Connor Gallagher, the leading Male U20. Declan McCarthy celebrated his first M50 success as he finished alongside clubmate Marina Campbell in 38 minutes and 23 seconds. Springwell’s Jim Breen was the top M55 on 39 minutes and 9 seconds; Lagan Valley man Francis Boal ran 44 minutes and 9 seconds for the M60 prize and Christy McMonagle on 41 minutes and 51 seconds was the top M65.

In the womens race Gillian Wasson of Springwell chased Marina Campbell hard and was rewarded with a third place finish in a good 38 minutes and 38 seconds. Lifford’s Claire McGuigan looked good in fourth with a 39 minutes and 51 seconds run in her first road race.

The female age group winners were F35 Irene McFadden of Letterkenny on 42 minutes and 54 seconds; F40 Henrietta Elves of Inishowen on 48 minutes and 55 seconds; F45 Donna Philson with 41 minutes and 47 seconds and F50 Gloria Donaghy of Finn Valley on 46 minutes and 20 seconds.