The Deep RiverRock Queen’s 3k, 5k Open and 5k Elite races were held on Wednesday 13th March in Belfast. The Championship 5k race, a new race, was open to participants who had previously recorded with a time of 20 minutes or less with the standard 5k being an open race. The weather was ideal for all races with little wind, no rain and relatively mild temperatures.
Proceedings started with the 3k race which involved 1 & 2/3 clockwise laps starting on the Annadale Embankment, running over both the Ormeau and King’s Bridges before finishing outside the PEC gates on the Stranmillis Embankment.
Alex, Jacob, Thomas and Cara before the race
EDAC had three runners in this race; Sarah Gilchrist, Cara Napier and Thomas Magee who joined a field of 101 runners. The pace was ferocious from the start with spectators having ring side positions and were able to see the pack twice. Thomas, who was participating in the race for the first time, finished in a time of 10.52 in 24th position. Cara crossed the line with a personal best time of 11.50 (48th position) taking 27 seconds off last years’ time. She was followed by Sarah who finished in 13 minutes.
All other EDAC runners took part in the Elite 5k race with juniors Jacob Crawford, Alex Robinson and Anna Gardiner joining the EDAC seniors Catherine O’Connor, Paul Burns, Joe Napier, Adam Morgan and Adam Withers in the 324-runner field. This race started slightly further back along Annadale Embankment and involved nearly three loops on the same course as the 3k route.
In this Elite 5k race nine athletes broke the 15-minute barrier with the sprint finish seeing the top two runners being given the same time. Brhane Gabrebrham of Annadale Striders just beat clubmate Neil Johnston who was last year’s winner to the top of the podium and was crowned the winner in a time of 14.31. Chris Fielding of Sale Harriers completed the podium finishers in 14.34. 
Adam Withers was the first EDAC finisher in a time of 16.34, fifteen seconds faster than his time for the same race last year. Anna Gardiner was hot on his heels setting a personal best time of 16.35. This improved her 5k road personal best by 1 minute 25 set in 2020 although she has set faster Parkrun times more recently and secured her second place on the podium. Following shortly behind was Catherine O’Connor who finished in a time of 16.57. This secured her top Masters place on podium position and sixth female overall.
Alex Robinson was first EDAC junior home in the 5k race dropping under 17 minutes (16.59) for the first time. This smashed his last 5k road race time again set in 2020 by 5 minutes 46 seconds, though again he has more recent faster Parkrun times. Second male EDAC junior home was Jacob Crawford who bettered his time from last year of 17.36 by 19 seconds coming home in 17.17 and achieving a new personal best in the process. Joe Napier ensured that the Napier clan all went home happy. He also achieved a personal best, like his daughter Cara in the 3k race, of 18.18 easily breaking 19 minutes for the first time. It was only a last-minute decision for Paul Burns to run. He had been feeling under the weather for most of the previous week. He decided to take this race as a training run but achieved a very respectable time of 18.33. Adam Morgan also had a great run. He consistently trains hard and saw all his efforts rewarded. He took 43 seconds of his personal best for 5k and 1 minute 16 seconds off last years’ time. 
All runners said after the race that the conditions were ideal and the support excellent. The free-flowing pizza after the events for both runners & supporters was well earned.
Anna Selected again for Irish team.
Anna Gardiner also heard this week that she has made international selection again for the U20 senior Irish female team at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia on Saturday 30th March. She was selected after her convincing win at the All-Ireland School Cross Country championships last weekend. Huge congratulations Anna.