On Saturday afternoon, Mary Peters track saw the Irish Milers Club hold their Belfast event. The Irish Milers club is dedicated to providing athletes and their coaches with top quality meets at which the athletes can excel. All middle distance races are paced to ensure a fast race which raises the standards of middle distance athletics in Ireland. All distances on the track are run from 100 metres up to 3000 metres. From EDAC Seniors saw Catherine O’Connor who has been in great form on the road and over cross country in the past year now turned her hand to the 3000 metres on the track. With warm sunny conditions and a very strong field of 16 runners, Catherine took on the challenge, a fast paced was set and despite being spiked Catherine came in 8th position in a time of 9min 42sec, a great afternoons work for Catherine.

Running the same race, Anna Gardiner coming off an excellent cross country season wanted to transfer that momentum to the track. Anna taking on the senior women new there was slim hope of a podium place, but Anne was aiming to get closer to an elusive Commonwealth youth games qualification time of 9m 40sec , her previous best was 10m 15sec so with a strong senior field and some great junior starlets from around Ireland Anna was hoping for a fast time. From the gun Anna took to the front and settled with the lead group getting a tow from the big girls in front of her. With great support from the stands, and dad Paddy losing his voice from shouting as the fans realised that the qualifying time was in reach as a strong pace was being set. With a lap to go and the clock at 8m 29sec at the bell everyone knew Anna was almost there, at the final 200m mark the clock was at 9min 10sec as Anna went for the finish line, the only thing that could stop her was the lactic acid sniper but her speed and momentum was good Anna crossed the line in 6th position with a amazing time of 9min 39sec, what an achievement well done to Anna, Peter Morgan her coach and the Gardiner family. Next race on the horizon for EDAC is the Cooley 10k in Carlingford