BY LEE MAGINNIS
ARMAGH International Road Races felt positively Baltic, but it stayed completely dry and really could have been a whole lot worse.
The blustery conditions from earlier in the day subsided in time for the multiple juvenile races round Armagh’s historic Georgian Mall.
Then, under the atmospheric street lighting, enhanced strategically in places by temporary floodlights, the main business of the evening got underway with the international mens 5K which was won by the USA’s Andrew Colley in a superb 13:33.
The race stretched out like a long train round the Mall, spectators treated to a display of blistering speed and racing.
Then it was time for the International Women’s 3K.
Again, it was fast and furious and the result only decided in a sprint down the final straight, only four seconds splitting the top three.
Swansea Harriers’ Verity Ockenden won in 9:05, Thames Valley Harriers’ India Weir was second in 9:07 with third place going to Amelia Quirk of Bracknell AC.
Northern Irish women had a great showing with a mixture of youth and experience.
Roisin Flanagan of Finn Valley AC was seventh th in 9:19 with Hannah Gilliland of Annadale Striders hot on her heels in 9:25, the 3K being very short for Hannah who excels at longer distances.
Roisin’s twin sister Eilish was 20th in 9:35, the pair having done much of their running in the USA since moving there to take part in the collegiate scholarship system.
In 26th was Lucy Foster, the young Willowfield Harrier has been running very well over cross country this winter.
She ran 9:42 with Rebecca Rossiter 32nd in 9:49. Amy Greene was 37th, Kirsti Foster was 39th and young Willowfield Harrier Emily Morris was 41st, fresh from winning the Stormont Cross Country last Saturday.
