Coleraine Campus 5k 2026 Race Report
NI & Ulster 5k Road Champions Crowned at Coleraine Campus 5k
Danny Mooney of Letterkenny AC, and Hannah Gilliland of Annadale Strider took the top honours in the final race of Friday evening to conclude the Coleraine Campus 5k 2026, at Ulster University’s Cromore Road site, which also hosted the Norther Ireland and Ulster 5k Road Championship in association with Athletics Northern Ireland.
It was the Juniors who got the evening under way when they took off from just outside the Sports Centre at 6:30pm for a one-mile race sponsored by BASALTsix that was just under one and a quarter lap of the race circuit. There were boys and girls between 8 and 14 years old competing in this race, producing some very fast times, with Rose Millar of Mid Ulster AC first to the finish line in a rapid 5:33. Rose was closely followed by Annie Jardine of Ballymena and Antrim AC in 5:42, with Darragh McCloskey and Conall McCloskey the first boys home with boy coming through the line in 5:53.
The Junior Mile was followed by three 5km races, that competitors entered based on their predicted finished times. First up was those whose predicted finish time was greater than 22 minutes, sponsored by Bensons NI. There were just under 100 competitors in this race, with the first 3 home underestimating their 5k fitness when entering and exceeding the 30 seconds tolerance to be eligible for prizes. As a result, Glenn Pollock took the male win in 21:31 from Tom Cormie (21:36) of Springwell RC and Jonathan McCaughan in 21:37.
The fight for the ladies’ podium was very close, with Jillian Redpath of Dromore AC taking the win in 21:32, very closely followed by Holly Webber (21:33) of Willowfield Harriers and Catherine James (21:34) of Lagan Valley AC.
Next on the agenda was the 18-22 minutes predicted finish time race, sponsored by ids Chartered Accountants. This as a fantastic battle for the win between the front 3, with Chris Hamilton of Ballymena and Antrim AC leading for most of the race. However, it was Eamon Kerrigan (Derry Track Club) who had the strongest kick in the last 300m to take the win in 17:39. Chris finished in 17:44, followed by Peadar Bennett of Omagh Harriers in 17:53.
In the race for the female podium, Mid Ulster AC’s pre-race favourite Grace Evans continued her fine form to finish in 18:01, with Cherith Wright of Ballymena Runners a close second in 18:04, and Tracey Atkinson of Victoria Park and Connswater AC completing the podium in 18:40.
Finally, came the Elite Sub-18 minutes race, sponsored by Mallon and Co Solicitors, with the winners of this race to be crowned the Northern Ireland and Ulster 5k Road Champions for 2026. By this point of the evening there were large crowds around the course, mostly along the home straight and finish line where the athletes would pass by three times through the race before finishing up here on their fourth lap.
The atmosphere was building up to this point, with everyone eagerly anticipating a lightning-fast race at the front, and the tunes being played by DJ Triggs at the top of the home straight keeping the energy alive in the gathered crowd.
This race was electric from the off with Letterkenny AC’s Danny Mooney making his way to the front of the lead pack of about a dozen runners early on. CNDR Track Club’s Cathaoir Purvis was tucked closely behind Danny through the first couple of kilometres, with Craig McMeechan (North Down AC), Noah Cavanagh (Lagan Valley AC), Oisin McGloin (Lagan Valley AC), Neil Johnston (Annadale Striders), Brandon McKeown (Annadale Striders) and Martin Cox among the serious contenders in the chasing pack.
Danny led through most of the race, however, Neil Johnston made a surge to the front as the group passed the finish line for the last lap of the course. At this point, the lead group was down to four, with Neil, Danny, Oisin and Craig battling it out for the last kilometre. Neil held the lead up until they were approximately 600 metre out, when Danny regained his lead and began his kick to the finish line. From here it was maximum effort from all 4 to the finish, with Danny Mooney first to the line in a fantastic 14:35. Neil Jonhston followed very closely behind in 14:37 for second place, and Oisin McGloin in 14:40 for third.
In the race for the female podium, Hannah Gilliland (Annadale Striders) led from the beginning to take the win in 16:39, just 11 seconds behind the course record. CNDR Track Club’s 17-year-old, Emer McKee had a super run to claim 2nd place in 17:09, while Lagan Valley AC’s Catherine Martin edged out her club mate Marianne Doherty to take the final spot on the podium in 17:23.
This race rounded out a fantastic night’s racing at the campus, with a great atmosphere around the usually tranquil surroundings, with over 300 athletes competing across all the races.
Elite Sub 18 Mins Race sponsored by Mallon & Co Solicitors
Female / NI & Ulster Championship
1st Hannah Gilliland / Annadale Striders / 16:39
2nd Emer McKee / CNDR Track Club / 17:09
3rd Catherine Martin / Lagan Valley AC /17:23
Male / NI & Ulster Championship
1st Danny Mooney / Letterkenny AC / 14:35
2nd Neil Johnston / Annadale Striders / 14:37
3rd Oisin McGloin / Lagan Valley AC / 14:40
18-22 Mins Race sponsored by ids Chartered Accountants
Female
1st Grace Evans / Mid Ulster AC / 18:01
2nd Cherith Wright / Ballymena Runners / 18:04
3rd Tracey Atkinson / Victoria Park & Connswater AC / 18:40
Male
1st Eamon Kerrigan / Derry Track Club / 17:39
2nd Chris Hamilton / Ballymena & Antrim AC / 17:44
3rd Peadar Bennett / Omagh Harriers / 17:53
22+ Mins Race sponsored by Bensons NI
Female
1st Jillian Redpath / Dromore AC / 21:32
2nd Holly Webber / Willowfield Harriers / 21:33
3rd Catherine James / Lagan Valley AC / 21:34
Male
1st Glenn Pollock / Olympian Triathlon Club / 21:31
2nd Tom Cormie / Springwell RC / 21:36
3rd Jonathan McCaughan / No Club / 21:37
NI & Ulster 5k Championship Team Winner
Female
1st Annadale Striders 1:13:29
2nd Lagan Valley AC 1:15:50
3rd Ballymena & Antrim AC 1:16:58
Male
1st Lagan Valley AC 1:01:21
=2nd Letterkenny AC 1:02:06
=2nd Annadale Strider AC 1:02:06
Coleraine Campus Junior Mile 2026
The Coleraine Campus 5k evening got off to an exciting start as proceedings were opened with the Junior Mile Race, which was just under one and a quarter laps of the campus main road circuit. The race started on the link road just outside the Sports Centre and used the same finish as the 5k races that would follow it.
The race kicked off just after 6:30pm, with over 30 energetic juniors lined up and ready to start their GPS watches. The race was sponsored by BASALTsix, with each of the kids getting a BASALTsix t-shirt, bespoke medal, and plaques for each of the winners listed below.
Super running from all of the juniors, with many really impressive times.
Full results available on: https://www.springwellrunners.co.uk/results1
Overall Girl Winner
Rose Millar / Mid Ulster AC / 5:33
Overall Boy Winner
Darragh McCloskey / Foyle Valley AC / 5:53
U14 Girl Winner
Annie Jardine / Ballymena & Antrim AC / 5:42
U14 Boy Winner
Lewis Johnston / North Down AC / 5:54
U12 Girl Winner
Katie Millar / Mid Ulster AC / 6:22
U12 Boy Winner
Jai-James McCloskey / 5:54
U10 Girl Winner
Riona McSorley / Ballymena & Antrim AC / 6:29
U10 Boy Winner
Conall McCloskey / 5:53