The 2014 Greater Derry Track Club (GDTC) summer fun runs came to a close on Pinkerton Academy’s track Thursday, July 31, in a ceremonious atmosphere.
The night of the races – the sixth such evening of the GDTC’s 40th season of summer fun runs – took place after the local club and its sponsors had provided awards for the series stalwarts in each age category. And plenty of Londonderry individuals were recognized.
“A looming rainstorm kept the races going at a good pace, but that did not stop the 500-plus runners from coming out in force,” said GDTC series co-director Maureen Knepp of Londonderry.
The young runners enjoyed the added treat of having Manchester Monarchs’ mascot “Max” around to give high-fives and hand some racers their honors.
The total count for food donated during the final series event – in lieu of registration fees submitted by racers and their families – was 260 pounds, bringing the total of non-perishable food donated to the St. Thomas Food Bank in Derry through the 2014 fun run series to 1,444 pounds.
Race participants finished with a medal and a T-shirt, and the overall winners and top finishers in the different age and race categories were recognized as well.
Notching top-three overall finishes in their respective age groups during the six-week series were six Londonderry youngsters.
They are: age group champions Grace McDonough (10-year-old girls), Cailey McDonough (11-year-old girls), Lillian Law (12-year-old girls), and Zach Ford (boys’ open-mile champ), second-place finisher Jake Donnelly (13-year-old boys), and third-place finisher Emma Donnelly (girl 11s).