Squads travel to Athenry

CITY of Derry and Foyle Valley mens squads will challenge for individual and team honours in the National Half Marathon Championships, in Athenry, on Sunday.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Aug 2012, 07:29 BST

The 13.1 miles of the half marathon and local runners will line up on Sunday afternoon at 1pm in search of National half marathon honours.

Greg Roberts and Declan Reed front the local Spartans strong challange for medals, not an easy ask at this level but both men have the pedigree to mount a serious assault on podium places. Reed has emerged as a real talent in recent years and has posted several impressive runs over 3K, 5K, 10K and 15K recently. Roberts is in hard training for the Berlin marathon at the end of September and is hopeful of rediscovering his racing form of a year or so ago on the roads of Athenry this weekend.

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This pair front a decent looking Spartans senior squad completed by Emmet McGinty and the revitalised Kieran Hurley. The top pairing will look to finish as far up as possible to boost the team medal prospects while McGinty and Hurley will chase good back up runs in the three to score, time based team competition. New PB’s for all concerned may be needed to get into medal contention.

Scott Rankin, Chris McGuinness and Pius McIntyre will carry Foyle Valley colours in their first taste of top class national road race action.

Rankin has a good record over the shorter distances but is untested over half marathon and how he copes will be crucial to the purple vests collective showing. Again PB’s will be significant and lets hope the conditions on the two lap course will be favourable.

The Spartans also have a Masters squad travelling with Paddy Mhor Doherty, Paul McCafferty, James Brown, Damien McGinty and the evergreen Christy mcMonagle comprising a strong combination.

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McGinty M50 and McMonagle M65 will join the others in the composite group 1 team and they have a decent shot at team honours. McMonagle looks nailed on for a M65 individual medal and McGinty is a dark horse in his M50 age group.

The others three are all M40’s and on the basis of their recent training and racing have the attributes to press for team honours.

Sunday also offers the Laganside 10k road race in Belfast. This one has a 2pm start and may well attract some local interest.