On a weekend of notable results, there is really only one place to start.
Finn Valley AC’s Arlene Crossan delivered the performances of her life in Gaborone, Botswana at the World Athletics Relays.
Arlene stepped up to the mark to help power the Ireland women’s 4x400m relay team to qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
On Sunday, in the repechage round of the World Relays, Arlene ran a superb third leg, her 51.30-second split teeing things up nicely for Sharlene Mawdsley, whose blistering 48.34 on the anchor booked the tickets for Beijing.
Ireland won the race in 3:23.83 to seal their place at next year’s Worlds with Rachel McCann and Sophie Becker also running on Sunday.
In the opening round on Saturday, Arlene clocked a 51.49 anchor.
Putting some weight and context to the performance, her weekend was described by former Irish Athletics Team Manager Patsy McGonagle as: “One of the best runs ever by a Donegal athlete”.
Over the key third leg, Arlene kept on the coat tails of Janielle Josephs from Jamaica down the home stretch to keep Ireland firmly in the hunt – and send Mawdsley off nicely to nab a memorable win.
There was a significant run by Finn Valley AC athlete Tara Rose Smith in Clonmel on Saturday.
Tara Rose, who is just 16 years old, clocked 2:07.63 over 800m at an Irish Milers meet in Clonmel.
That time is not only a new Finn Valley AC club record, but it is also inside the qualification standard for the European Athletics U18 Championships.
Tara Rose will need to go inside 2:09.50 a second time, but her latest time is now the national U18 lead in 2026.
Finn Valley AC’s John Joe Doherty crossed the line at the 2026 Belfast Marathon on Sunday in 2:26:59 – a new FVAC club record.
John Joe had a an excellent run to finish ninth overall and he takes the Ulster title as a result of his finish.
The 2026 North West 10k attracted, as always, a large crowd of participants on Bank Holiday Monday – and Finn Valley AC was well turned out a fine morning in Letterkenny.
Finn Valley AC’s Mark McGinley was fourth overall in 34:14 while Gerard Gallagher was eighth in 34:55.
Maggie O’Hara was the fourth woman home, the Irvinestown woman – who competed at the European Champion Clubs Cross Country in Portugal back in February – finishing in 39:14.
Shaun Bannigan clocked 36:10 for 15th and Enda Doherty was also inside the top 20, going 36:33 to finish 18th. Barry Gallagher, fresh from the Manchester Marathon recently, came around in 37:45 and Darren Toland crossed the line in 38:17.
Finn Valley AC’s Kay Byrne, a triple-medal winner recently at the European Masters in Poland, was the F60 category winner in 42:41.
Others from Finn Valley AC and also the Finn Valley AC Fit4Life group to compete on Monday included: Ailish Lynch (43:50), Adam Dunnion (45:36), Cathal Lafferty (47:51), Paddy Hannigan (49:59) Eddie McMenamin (49:52), Demi Crossan (49:47), Paddy Hannigan (49:59), Noreen Bonner (50:50), Kate McMenamin (52:23), Michael Thompson (52:41), Raonaid Lafferty (53:10), Bernie Martin (53:19), John Griffin (53:50), Kayleigh McMenamin (55.52), Peter McMenamin (55.52), Shauna McCarron (57.22) Martina Lindsay (57.34), Diane Gallagher (58.14) Aine McElchar (59.02)l Georgina Donnelly (59.56), Brendan Martin (60:46), Gloria Donaghey (60:51), PJ Sweeney (61:56), Selina Russell (63:37), Edel Neely (65:23), Mary Martin (65:23).
In the case of Mary Martin, this race continues her superb record of having competed in every North West 10k. Mary has now completed 29 NW 10ks!
Another nod to the Belfast Marathon on Sunday, where Finn Valley AC Fit4Life members Sean O’Leary (3:56:19) and Mary Hippsley (4:07:43) competed while in a ladies 10k in Ballina, Deirdre Friel clocked 64:55.
Finn Valley AC athlete Eimear McCarroll won the 3000m steeplechase at the Gary Wieneke Memorial on Friday night.
A scholarship student at Bradley University, Eimear – competing in her first competitive steeplechase – won in 10:50.77.
Eimear won from Savannah Beavers (11:04.03) and Chloe Proffitt (11:34.84) at Demirjian Park in Illinois.
Finn Valley AC athlete Roisin Flanagan was in action in Canada at the weekend.
In the Ottawa Fastest Women 5km, Roisin clocked 16:07 for fourth spot and she will be back on the track for a 5k in LA later in the month.