By Martin Wilcox
LAST Wednesday saw the Ardglass 5k and 10k road races take place as part of the local festival. This is a great local event which attracts many runners from the area. The course is undulating, to say the least, so PBs are few and far between. With warm but damp conditions, it was always going to be a tough outing.
In the 5K, EDAC fielded a team of nine athletes against a strong field of 145 club and local runners.
First home in the yellow and red vest was Dillon Hynds, who is having a strong season on and off the track, and will be pleased with his ninth-place finish in 19 minutes, 58 seconds.
Just over Dillon’s shoulder was Adam Morgan with another strong run, finishing 11th in 21 minutes, 15 seconds.
Next in was another EDAC junior, Amber Keown, with a great race in 22 minutes, 42 seconds. Keeping it in the family, Oscar Keown crossed the line in 25 minutes, two seconds.
The first senior lady home was Maureen Kelly, finishing 33rd in a solid 25 minutes. Old hand Paddy Smith came home in 49th place in 26 minutes, 56 seconds.
Áine Grant will be happy with 27 minutes over her favourite distance. Suzy Smith was not too far behind Áine, recording 27 minutes, 28 seconds.
Willow Keown was the next family member home in 27 minutes, 51 seconds.
Bringing the club home in the 5k was club chairperson Wayne Giles in a respectable 33 minutes, 41 seconds.
In the 10k, 117 athletes toed the line for the longer distance, with East Down fielding six runners. Eamon Kelly crossed the line first for the club in a strong time of 44 minutes, 53 seconds.
First lady home in club colours was Lisa Laird in 47 minutes, 16 seconds. Keown senior was the next EDAC man over the line, with Kieran producing a strong race to finish in 49 minutes, 17 seconds.
Orla O’Connor had another solid outing for the club, crossing the line in 51 minutes, 30 seconds.
James Campbell made his first appearance in club colours and enjoyed a great debut, finishing in 54 minutes, 36 seconds.
Bringing both the team and the Keown family home was Lesley, who recorded a solid 55 minutes, 45 seconds.
Well done to everyone who took part, and congratulations to the organisers for putting on another excellent local event.
