ONE of the highlights of the Raheny 5 race programme are the AXA 800m and one mile races. The former caters for juveniles between the ages of 8 and 12 while anybody under 16 can compete in the latter event.

The sight of 300 young runners setting off on their 800m journey is an inspiring sight. Once again there was a record turn out in this year's races.  Aoife Downey of Skerries won the U-12 girl's race ahead of Molly Murphy-O'Kane of Donore.

The boy's race was dominated by Raheny Shamrock athletes. Martin Byrne won, with Cathal O'Clerigh second and Paddy O'Donnell third. Hopefully we will be hearing about the exploits of this trio in future years as well.

Former winners of the mile race include Colin Costello, who later excelled in the European Junior championship and Sean Connolly, who has won the Raheny 5 two years in a row now.

Raheny's Timmy Moriarty is building up an excellent reputation in his own right and he won the boy's U-16 race for the second year in a row - he cooled down by running in the five mile race afterwards! Adam Daly from Mullingar was second with Raheny's Emmet McGovern third.

In the girl's race Amy Carron from Skerries was the winner with Raheny's Ellen O'Hanlon second and Orla O'Donnell third.

But on the day everybody was a winner with all finishers receiving a medal and a goody bag.

Perhaps a future Olympian was among those who participated!