The popular Co. Down 5K took place on Thursday evening in Downpatrick, attracting runners of all ages to one of the region’s fastest and best-supported road races.
Niamh Watson delighted with her performance
Known for its flat and speedy course around the Grove Shopping Centre, competitors tackled an unusual 7.5-lap route featuring smooth corners and long straights thatregularly produce personal bests across all four races. Despite the repetitive nature of the course, which can feel like running on a tarmac track, the event remains a favourite on the local racing calendar thanks to its excellent organisation, enthusiastic crowd support and range of children’s races that kick off the evening’s action.
Newcastle AC’s youngest athletes got the club off to a flying start. In the P5 and Under race, Niamh Watson produced a determined performance. After setting off at a steady pace, Niamh finished strongly with a fantastic sprint to secure a podium position.
In the P6/P7 race, Emily McGreevy continued the club’s success by taking an excellent second place against strong competition around the one-lap route.
The senior races also produced some outstanding performances from both the club’s seniors and juniors, many of whom challenged themselves in the main races.
Matthew Sutton ran 15.48 to take 4th place overall
In the feature race of the evening, where athletes targeted the coveted sub-20-minute 5K barrier, Matthew Sutton led home the Newcastle AC contingent. He claimed fourth place overall with a strong final 400m and a finish that went right to the line, clocking an impressive 15:48.
Kerry claimed 2nd place
In the women’s race, local international Anna Gardiner, recently returned home for the summer, claimed first place. Newcastle’s Kerry O’Flaherty finished second in 17:27. Frank Cunningham followed in 17:50, with Philip White producing an impressive run to finish in 17:57. Sinead Murtagh also impressed, crossing the line in exactly 19 minutes.
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Rory knowing he was on his way to a PB
In Race 4, young Rory McAlinden enjoyed a memorable evening, recording a new 5K personal best of 21:26. It was a phenomenal performance from the P5 athlete, who held his own among a highly competitive field of much older and taller runners. Dylan McGreevy also celebrated a personal best, crossing the line in second place with an impressive 18:30, setting a new road 5K PB.
Emily fresh from 2nd place in Downpatrick the night before takes part in the Flahavans Endurance race at MPT
On Saturday, the Mary Peters Track hosted the NI & Ulster Senior Championships, with local athletes producing a number of standout performances at one of the biggest events in the athletics calendar.
Among those catching the eye was young prospect Emily McGreevy, who has been apart of the Flahavan’s Endurance Squad this season. In keeping with the traditional opening of the Championships, the Endurance squad kicked things off with the 1000m event. Following an excellent schools cross-country season, the P6 pupil earned selection to the prestigious squad and rose to the occasion with a superb run against athletes a year older.
Despite her young age and having finished second in Downpatrick the previous evening, Emily showed maturity beyond her years as she competed confidently among the province’s emerging talents, underlining her potential as one of the sport’s rising stars.
There was further success later in the day for Siobhan Grant in the Senior 3000m Racewalk, where she secured her first NI Senior Championships medal just one week after daughter Aoife claimed gold at the Age Group Championships in the same discipline.
Siobhan takes 2nd place in the 3000m Racewalk sharing the podium with legend Karen Wilton
Siobhan produced a remarkable performance to win the silver medal, smashing her previous personal best by more than three minutes. She finished behind current Hill and Dale ladies’ leader Karen Wilton of Jog Lisburn, but the achievement marked a significant milestone in her athletics career. Looking ahead to the Masters Championships at the end of the month, the performance has boosted her confidence as she aims to retain her NI & Ulster title over the shorter 2000m distance.
The versatile athlete also enjoyed success in the field events, recording a season’s best throw in the hammer to finish fifth overall.
The performances on both road and track rounded off another successful weekend for Newcastle AC, with athletes delivering strong results across all age groups and disciplines.