Mark Dooley performed with distinction when he made his international debut for Ireland at the Antrim International Cross Country race at Greenmount on Saturday With a number of high quality African runners on the start line and a very strong English team in tow the task for Mark was to race to his full potential.

The 10km race over a testing hilly course was won by Thomas Ayeko from Uganda in a time of 31. 27. Ayeko won the same race in 2013. Edwin Soi (31.40) of Kenya came 2^nd with another Kenyan Jonathan Ndiku 3^rd. Soi was the bronze medallist in the 2008 Olympic Games over 5000m.

Mark Dooley (35.29) can be proud of his effort. He finished in 29^thposition and was Ireland’s final scorer as the team placed 4^th behind winners Kenya and 2^nd placed England.

In the St. Patrick’s Festival 5km race in the St. Stephen’s Green area on Sunday the Donore Harriers contingent was led home by Eoin Durkan (15.45) who placed 11^th.  However, the star performances came from Barry Potts in the M65 class and Fathi Aden in the junior category. Potts (20.05), who is mentor to the Fit 4 Life squad, had a very fine race to win his age group. On the other end of the age spectrum 14 years old Fathi Aden (17.00) finished 47^th overall and placed 3^rd in the junior category behind two older and more experienced athletes. This was Fathi’s first time to race over 5 kilometres and he continues to prove his potential as a future star in the sport. Not far behind was 15 years-old Sekeriye Ahmed (17.40) who placed 73^rd overall and was the 4^th junior. The other notable performance came from Jennifer O’Keeffe (24.20) who recorded a new personal best when placing 12^th in the F45 category.

In the National Masters Indoor Track Field championships at Athlone Arena both Anne Gormley and Terry Mee came away with a gold and silver medal. Anne won the 3km Walk in the F50 age class in a time of 20.37.10 and threw a distance of 6.09 metres to take silver in the Shot Pull. Terry was first in the M70 800m and 2^nd in the 3000m recording times of 2.52.25 and 12.43.22

Gavin Byrne (17.59), a regular competitor in the event, won the Waterstown 5km Parkrun on Saturday  with a new personal best time. Meanwhile in the Barcelona Marathon masters athlete Alan Farrell had a good run to record 3.09.52 and in the Bundoran 10K, Rhona Duane ran strong to record 44:42

Results in brief:

IAAF Permit Antrim International Cross Country race at Greenmount: 29^th Mark Dooley (35.29)

Hartstown 5km Parkrun: 23^rd Graham Hopkins M40 (23.41)

Naas 5km Parkrun: 3^rd Ian Redican M40 (19.59)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun: 1^st Gavin Byrne (17.59 PB); 5^th Colin Morrissey M35 (19.52)

National Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships at Athlone Arena: F50 3km Walk – 1^st Anne Gormley (20.37.10): F35 Shot Putt – 2^nd Anne Gormley (6.09m): M70 800m – 1^st Terry Mee (2.52.25): M70 3000m – 2^nd Terry Mee (12.43.22)

St. Patrick’s Festival 5km at City Centre: 11^th Eoin Durkan (15.45); 29^th Gavin Keogh (16.30); 46^th Andrew Ledwith (16.57); 47^th / 3^rd Junior Fathi Aden (17.00); 48^th Luke Boland (17.01); 73^rd / 4^th Junior Sekeriye Ahmed (17.40); 165^th / 17^th woman Michelle Childs (19.55); 172^nd / 1^st in M65 Barry Potts (20.05); 183^rd / 13^th in M45 Des Gill (20.14); 197^th Tomas Griffin (20.35); 238^thDarren Carey (21.08); 259^th / 27^th in M40 John Gleeson (21.28); 298^th/ 33^rd woman Eva Campion (22.02); 328^th / 35^th M40 Gary Fitzgerald (22.41); 353^rd / 26^th Junior Jack Raftery (22.57); 435^th / 12^th F45 Jennifer O’Keeffe (24.20 PB); 440^th / 54^th woman Michelle Dawson (24.23); 578^th / 89^th woman Maria O’Donoghue (26.08); 680^th / 7^th in M65 Michael Brophy (27.28); 769^th / 57^th M4 John Powell (28.40); 1149^th / 73^rd F40 Annemarie Conneely (33.00)

Team Result - Men: 1^st Crusaders 53; 2^nd Rathfarnham 55; 3^rdClonliffe Harriers 78; 6^th Donore Harriers <Keogh, Ledwith, Aden, Boland> 170

Barcelona Marathon: Alan Farrell M40 (3.09.52)

LATE RESULT: Kinvara Rock Half-Marathon (8/3/15): 470^thDeirdre Healy (1.59.19)

JUVENILE RESULTS in brief:

Hartstown 5km Parkrun: 22^nd Oliver Hopkins u/12s (23.41)

St. Patricks Festival 5km at City Centre: 47^th / 3^rd JNR Fathi Aden u/15s (17.00); 73^rd / 4^th JNR Sekeriye Ahmed u/16s (17.40); 353^rd / 26^th JNR Jack Raftery u/15s