Leevale’s James Grufferty was in fine form in the past week on the road racing circuit, after just returning from holidays (altitude training!) in Mexico. On Thursday night he ran in the Coolagown three mile race which he duly won in a time of 15:09, some four seconds ahead of James Murphy of Grange Fermoy. His time was three seconds better than John Kearney’s course record. Third was Eric Meade of East Cork (15:31), ahead of John Kearney of East Cork (15:40); Ian O’Sullivan, East Cork (15:46); Eamon McEvoy, St. Finbarrs (15:48); Julian Alubaidy, Grange Fermoy (15:57); and Martin Treacy, Clonliffe Harriers (16:14). Mary Sheehan of Grange Fermoy won the womens race in 17:22, ahead of Catriona McGreggor of Midleton in 19:21 and Frankie Devlin of Midleton in 20:28. On Saturday night Grufferty was in even better form at the Castletownroche Welcome Home five mile road race. He took over the lead shortly into the second mile and was never threatened as he raced on his own to a very comfortable win in a time of 26:25, some twenty two seconds ahead of Julian Alubaidy. Next came John Quirke of London Irish (28:26), Thomas Cody of Midleton, and Tim Smith of Eagle (29:37) Mary O’Leary of Castletownroche won the womens race from Margaret Higgins of Duhallow. And the racing did not end there for the Leevale seventeen year old as he turned out on Sunday in the Mazda national league to run the 800m in the absence of Darren Dinneen, who decided against running to prepare for an Olympic qualifying time attempt in Gothenborg. Grufferty went through the 400m in a PB of 58.3, and had another PB for the 800m with 2:09.28.