The New Year has brought more honours for two of Derry Track Club’s star athletes with Adam Kirk-Smith representing Northern Ireland/Ulster at the Antrim International on January 14 while Shane McGowan is set to line up for NI/Ulster at the Celtic International in Cardiff eight days later.
For Shane McGowan it is his first representative honour at cross country since he was a schoolboy and is reward for a hard autumn’s endurance work.
He was disappointed with a seventh place in the Ulster Novice after an illness the previous week but showed his true pedigree at the Irish Novice where he was an outstanding 11th. That helped DTC to silver team medals.
Meanwhile DTC athletes eased themselves into what promises to be a busy 2017 with an outing to the parkrun.
There was a double for the Lean Green Running Machine in Omagh where Paul Barbour got over an achilles strain with a smooth victory over a 225-strong field in 16:56.
Not to be outdone Deirdre Haigney, Irish 400m champion in her age group, showed she is woman for all seasons by leading the women home.
There were no less than 13 DTC athletes in action at the Limavady parkrun boosting numbers to almost 40. Cathal McLaughlin showed he is wintering well with an impressive win in 17:35 as DTC athletes filled the first six places.
Marina Murphy was equally emphatic in winning the women’s race in 19:12. Both Marina (VW35-39) and Cathal (VM45-49) set age group records as did Kayla McLaughlin in the JW11-14.
Further afield Conan McCaughey warmed up for more personal challenges later in the month with a 22nd spot in the Inter-Area match helping East to a narrow victory in the team competition.