It has been a week of record-breaking action for Finn Valley AC athletes across the continents.
Mark English had another superb run in Rome. Mark placed second in an 800m, coming with a customary late burst to cross the line in 1:43.80 – his second fastest of all time.
Mark was just beaten by Gabriel Tual in 1:43.66 in a race held as part of the Diamond League, although it was a non-DL 800m.
The time goes in as a new Ulster, Donegal and FVAC 800m record.
A new Donegal record was set by Roisin Flanagan in the United States.
Over one mile, Roisin clocked 4:39.51 while running in the Festival of Miles 2026 at the St Louis High School.
Roisin was also in action over 1500m on Sunday when she clocked 4:21.16 while competing at the Adrian Martinez Classic, held at the Emerson Field, Concord.
Arlene Crossan has just clocked a new Finn Valley AC 400m club record with a new PB in Spain.
In the Granada Challenger/Mitin Internacional in Granada, Arlene – out of lane 2 – clocked 53.11 seconds, lowering the previous best of 53.63 from last year.
Arlene finished fourth with Ana Benitez winning in 52.29, Carmen Palos second in 52.62 and Poppy Malix third in 52.65.
There was a nice return to action for Finn Valley AC athlete Eilish Flanagan in the United States.
In the Yakima Mile, held in Yakima, Washington, Eilish finished third in 4:32.12. As it was a net downhill course, the time doesn’t qualify as a Donegal record but nevertheless this represented a very encouraging and positive return to racing for Eilish, the winner, Mia Cochran going 4:29.75.
There were medals aplenty for Finn Valley AC athletes at the Ulster Championships at the weekend.
There was a double gold for Amy Timoney, who won the U20 100m hurdles in 14.42 seconds. Amy also won the 100m in 12.39 seconds.
Riona Doherty leaped to 5.39m for gold in the U20 long jump while Dean Leeper won the U20 javelin throw.
Jasmine Barrett Doherty won gold in the 200m in a fine 27.91 seconds and also took silver in the 250m hurdles in 39.54 seconds.
John O’Connor Donoghue clocked 11:00.47 to win the U19 300m and, on his walks debut, O’Connor Donoghue also took gold, winning the U19 5k walk in 31:00.69
In the U16 javelin, Sophie Coulter took bronze (19.47m) and John Wright won silver in the U16 long jump, going to 5.27m
In the U18 boys long jump, Gradie Luhuta and Liam Patton were silver and bronze medallists.
In the U18 110m hurdles, Noah Beales and Cormac Cannon from Finn Valley AC were silver and bronze medal winners in the U18 200m
Aimee McElchar of Finn Valley AC landing bronze in the U17 3000m, clocking 10:57.46
Joe Wright of Finn Valley AC won gold in the U18 boys high jump and in the U16 shot Nazer Luhuta taking the bronze, while Tia Flinter bagged bronze in the U15 triple jump.
Finn Valley AC is delighted and proud to once again host the Shane Bonner Memorial 5k (incorporating the Donegal 5k Championships.
The 2026 version takes place this Friday, June 12.
The race is named in honour of Shane Bonner, the young Convoy man and Finn Valley AC athlete who was tragically taken from us in 2011. Registration will begin taken from 6pm with the race underway at 7.30pm.
Online entries are €12 and it will be €15 to enter on the day. All finishers will receive a medal and the race will be chip timed.
Donations will be taken for MS Donegal Branch and MS North West Therapy Centre, Sligo – you can donate via the entry link which is available on the Finn Valley AC Facebook page.
Finn Valley AC athlete John Joe Doherty was the winner of the CS Lewis 5 Mile Challenge in east Belfast on Friday evening. John Joe took victory in a new course record of 24 minutes and 59 seconds.
There were good results for Finn Valley AC athletes at an Irish Milers Club meet in Dublin on Saturday.
Tara Rose Smith finished fourth in the ‘A’ 800m, clocking 2:08.40. This is now her third time to finish inside the European U18 qualifying standard this summer.
Ciarán McCarroll won his 800m in 1:52.22.
Finn Valley AC’s Nadine McIntyre was the leading woman in the Killyclogher 10k on Saturday.
Nadine finished in 37:31 for her second victory in as many days.
The victory came a day after Nadine – home for the summer from Colby Community College in the US – won the Paul Murray 5k in Knockmanny.
Also running at the Killyclogher 10k were Martina Quinn, who clocked 44:24, and Ita Kelly, who crossed the line in 44:36, while Sean O’Leary (48:55) and Mary Hippsley (50:55) from the Finn Valley Fit4Life Group were in action too.
In the Killyclogher 5k, Padraig Og McDermott of Finn Valley AC placed fourth overall in 17:28. See less