One of the biggest events in world running took place in London over this last weekend, and included in the line up for the Mini Marathon on Saturday morning were 3 of our very own juniors, proudly wearing their Northern Ireland shirts and representing NI Schools.
With great conditions for running the 2.6km course it was Cormac Leheny in the boys U13 race who was the first of the NBH runners to line up on the start line at Horse Guards Parade. The races, part of the British Athletics Road Championship, included the best runners from around the British Isles, and with classic Cormac determination he passed the finish line on the Mall in a time of 9.05 minutes and placed 34. Great run Cormac, don’t lose your medal !
Cassie Curran and Leila Jones had a nervous wait for the final race of the morning, the girls U13 race, but this didn’t stop Cassie getting a great start and she was spotted in full flight in front of Buckingham Palace running very well and which she maintained to the tape – finishing in 23rd place in a time of 9.29 minutes. Super running Cassie, congratulations.
Leila had more of a battle but she really dug in up Constitution Hill (apparently it is a hill, despite her Dad calling it a slight incline) and she ended up finishing in front of the grandstand in a time of 9.55 minutes and in the top 50 of runners. Well done Leila and next time get some sleep the night before !!
Closer to home there was a busy day for NBH junior runners on Tuesday at the Belfast Primary Schools Cross country Championships at the surprisingly dry (but probably still windy) Mallusk Playing fields.
In the P7 boys final Cillian McLoughlin came home in 7.12 minutes to snatch a bronze medal and in the P6 boys final Isaac Mooney also landed a bronze medal, finishing in 7.35 minutes, with Alex Cronin also crossing the line for the NBH team ! Well done boys.
A larger contingent of NBH girls took part in the P6 girls final, with Eva McLoughlin the first Harrier to cross the line in just under 10 minutes, followed in order by Aoife Lemon, Betsy Taylor, Fola O’Kane and Eva McCarney. Great running and a great experience for all the girls, and great to see so many NBH team mates battling it out – keep going and keep pushing !
There was no weather report to accompany the results from the Primary Schools Mini Meet in Bangor on Wednesday, but whatever the conditions two of our junior girls flew the flag for the junior Harriers. Nola Rafferty must have slept well after her efforts, competing in 3 P7 events – the 60m sprint, the 600m where she clocked a great time of 2.13 minutes and finished 5th in a large field, and the long jump. Super all round competing from Nola ! Not to be out done, our very own Eimear Campbell lined up for the P6 60m sprint and crossed the line in style. Well done Eimear.
Finally, there was a big Harriers turn out for the weekend park runs, where at the Waterworks on Sunday morning the swans must have been chasing the juniors around – almost too many PBs to mention ! But here goes – Thomas Coy crossed the line first in a new PB, with more PBs following from Tom McLoughlin, Isaac Mooney, Eimear Coy, Nola Rafftery, Erin O’Regan and Grace McKenna. Super running from all of you !! Several other runners also came very close to new PBs so the training is paying off for all of you – keep working hard !
But not to be outdone, and perhaps without any swans giving chase, Tanoj Reddy Yakkanti also smashed a new PB of 8.27 minutes at the Victoria Junior Park Run. Well done Tanoj !
Some of our youngsters had also joined the 5km Waterworks park run on Saturday morning, where a special mention goes to Dara Cassidy for being agonisingly close to a PB ! In addition, the first girl over the line at the Sixmilewater 5km parkrun was our very own Holly Collins in a quick time of 20.26 minutes – that is a super run Holly, well done !
Waterworks Park Runs
2km Junior Park Run
5k Park Run
| 7 | Dara CASSIDY | Male | JM15-17 | North Belfast Harriers | 19:47:00 |
| 19 | Thomas COY | Male | JM11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 21:30:00 |
| 90 | Nola RAFFERTY | Female | JW10 | North Belfast Harriers | 25:51:00 |
| 91 | Orán STEELE | Male | JM15-17 | North Belfast Harriers | 25:55:00 |
| 235 | Matthew PURVIS | Male | JM15-17 | North Belfast Harriers | 32:12:00 |
| 338 | Dara MCLAUGHLIN | Male | JM11-14 | North Belfast Harriers | 46:07:00 |
| 345 | Milo PURVIS | Male | JM10 | North Belfast Harriers | 49:05:00 |
Upcoming Events
Lagan Valley Fab 5 Meeting 2
Registration is now open for the 2nd meeting of the track season at Mary Peters. Spaces are limited so register now.
Laganside 1Km for Juniors (10km for parents !)
Registration is also already open for this popular annual event on 1st September. Again, spaces are limited so early registration is advised.
Training continues as normal this week, Tuesday and Thursday evening.