Thursday 08 Feb 24 welcomed the return of the highly anticipated Armagh 5K International Road Race. The event is organised by Armagh Athletics Club and attracts elite athletes from all over the world to this fast course around The Mall.
In the lead up to the start of the best and most popular road race in the world there is always a flawlessly executed, jammed packed line up of junior races beforehand where many youngsters get to represent their schools and clubs on the large scale. The weather this year was not for playing ball at all. As the day rolled on and pictures appeared on line of snow drifts and abandoned cars, one would have been justified in saying, you know what, we’ll give this one amiss. However that is not how our juniors and their dedicated parents and coaches see it.
Everyone was picked up from school for a quick turn around and back on the road towards Armagh to lace up those road running shoes and embrace the wet, the wind and the battles that were to be had on The Mall.
Harry McVeigh returned to Armagh to fight in the age category above him, to retain his title that he literally ran away with last year. Proving his flawless ability to transition across any terrain and still pull out jaw dropping performances was evident at Armagh, yet again. It is not only a numerical difference when you are a junior in an age category, the mental battle and of course the physical difference between young people at 10 and 11 years of age is huge and requires a whole new level of resilience. Harry crossed the line in an excellent 2nd place (4:30 min) missing out on 1st place by 1 second to Ryan McMahon, Monaghan Phoenix
Connaire Og McVeigh, fresh from qualifying the day previously for the All Ireland Schools XC Championships, swapped out the spikes for his Nikes. He knew he had trained hard alongside Harry and off the back of a flawless run in Mallusk, Connaire Og pushed hard to take 13th place.
Everytime Rossa McAleenan races, you are guaranteed that he will give 110% to every step he makes. His undeniable improvement over the past few months has seen him secure Parkrun PB, after Parkrun PB. He entered this race with high confidence but like his regular training partner, was in a race as a junior and would be running against “the big boys”. It would have been hard to believe that this was the young Laitroim man’s first road race as he took to it like a duck to water and expertly navigated a very busy field to hold his own. He is definitely one to watch, coming across the line in an impressive 20th place.
Like many of the Newcastle Athletes, the two eldest Kerr Siblings, fell victim this year to being the younger participants in their race. However, always being optimistic they approached this with the view that it was their first outing in Armagh and an experience to build on for next year.
Sophie relished the challenge of racing against the bigger girls in P6. So after disrobing the many layers of heat and wet gear which kept the body of this young Primary 4, weather resistant, she took to the line and ran with so much heart to cross the line in 42nd place out of 161 participants.
Emily was delighted to see the rain, as her motto of ‘the dirtier, the better’ was going to play to her favour as this was the closest she’ll ever get to a dirty road race without throwing in some off-roading. Again she was pitted against the older category but the grit and determination that this young ladies displayed is immense and will tick this race off as a successful start to the cleaner running season finishing in 16th place right behind club mate Saorlaith. Emily continues to be the only one who hopes for more challenging weather conditions during race days.
Saorlaith McAleenan was fast off the line and on tired legs from a leg draining run the day before at Mallusk, Saorlaith stuck with the main lead group and elegantly flew around The Mall. Her instantly recognisable impeccable form is matched with relentlessness and drive. She crossed the line in 15th place and will only continue to improve this season as she falls back into athletics training between events. .
I think we should all be asking ourselves what does Fiachna McAleenan eats for breakfast, as after qualifying for the All Ireland Schools XC Championships the day before, playing a schools football match straight afterwards, then rocking up to Armagh Road Race on Thursday and giving everything around The Mall, he must be fueling with liquid gold. As the current Ulster Pentathlon Champion, he has proven himself a strong runner on track, at Cross Country and now he took to the road and also adds, natural road runner to his talents. A superb and now signature finish from Fiachna as he moved up the gears in the final 400m to take the five boys in front of him with ease.
Maisie McVeigh had also represented her school at All Ireland Schools XC Championships the day before, though her focus was on pulling on her Vapourflies and embracing the tarmac. As outright winner last year, she moved into a new age category this year and thus was nearly one of the youngest in her race. However she ran a well paced race and stuck with the main group to finish in 14th place. Happy with her performance as she eyes up the incoming track and field season with determination and excitement.
In the Men’s 3k race, Patrick McDaid and Euan McIntosh found themselves amongst some of the biggest names on the running circuit. This race’s age range spanned from Intermediate Juniors as young as 15 to the Senior Vets. So a vast array of talent on the line As the temperature continued to drop and the air remained moist, it was pretty hardcore conditions. Though these two young men are no strangers to having to dig deep to find that something extra during a race. Patrick crossed the line in 9.56, this equated to 14th in his category and 99th place overall. Euan pushed hard in the final 400m and capitalised on others’ tiring legs as he crossed the line in 13th place in 10.26 and 136th overall.
Though it is clear there is lots to celebrate following Armagh, a special mention has to go to the parents and the coaches who were able to execute a quick turn around from the school pick up and work days to stand in the wet and miserable Armagh to facilitate such opportunities for our Juniors. Without the dedication from those supporting the runners in training and to and from events, the success of the club would not be as far and wide reaching as it has become in recent years.
The Young Kerr Siblings sporting the style of the evening now dubbed ‘the onion look’ many layers to keep warm
Smiles from this trio of talent Rossa, Connaire Og and Harry
Euan and Patrick finished well in 13th and 14th place in their respective age categories