Queens 3k & 5k
Thursday 23rd was the evening lots of eager runners took to the streets of Belfast between Ormeau & Queen’s bridges to test their ability against some of the fastest 5 & 10 K runners around for the Deep Riverrock Queen’s 3 & 5K NI & Ulster Championships.
The 3k course was 1 & 2/3 clockwise laps which started on the Annadale Embankment, ran over both the Ormeau and King’s Bridges before finishing outside the PEC gates on the Stranmillis Embankment. The Gods were looking down on the runners as the weather was completely dry for both the 3 & 5K events; bookended by torrential rain showers before and after the events.
The field of 89 runners was split fairly evenly between male & female athletics. EDAC juniors had 5 runners. Ollie & Alex Robinson representing the boys & Anna Gardiner, Sarah Gilchrist & Cara Napier representing the girls.
The pace was ferocious from the start. Spectators had ring side positions and were able to see the pack twice. Anna unfortunately, while trying to move ahead of some runners, caught her toe on the back of another athlete’s shoe and had a tumble but was able to right herself quickly & settle into the blistering pace.
Ollie was leading on the first loop but dropped back to come 6th overall in a time of 10.03 coming second in the U17 category, just slightly slower than last years’ time. Anna was hot on his heels clocking 10.26 to finish first, a position she is getting used to.
It was Alex’s first Queen’s 5k. He found his new trainers added extra spring to his step & finished in 13th overall (9th U15 boy) in a time of 10.34 even though he is still 13. He should be very pleased with this given the calibre of the U15 runners ahead of him.
It was also Cara Napier and Sarah Gilchrist’s’ first queens 3k. They both managed great runs finishing in 12.17 & 12.49 respectively. At the end they said they would both do it next year, a sign that they weren’t to put off by the event.
The 5K had 697 participants; seven from EDAC. Eight athletes broke the 15 minute barrier with the sprint finish seeing Neil Johnston of Annadale Striders crowned the winner just one second ahead of Conall McClean in a time of 14.25. Craig McMeechan from North Down AC completed the podium finishers in 14.30.
Adam Withers was the first EDAC finisher in 16.49. Catherine O’Connor was hot on his heels in 17.03. She was so unlucky to only be 4 seconds behind the 3rd placed female, just missing a podium place. Nevertheless she had a fantastic run. Jacob Crawford was the only junior who took on the 5K race and finished well in 17.39. The remaining EDAC runners finished well. Conor Rice in 19.23, Adam Morgan in 20.51, Janie Murray in 23.22 (a new personal best for this distance), and Paddy McDonald (24.39). The free-flowing pizza after the events for both runners & supporters were well earned.