Recent racing update

Jemma Reekie again headed Laura Muir in a photo finish with a sub 2 minute 800m, in Italy.  

Josh Kerr moved to the top of the runbritain 1500m rankings. 

Ann Marie McGlynn continued her fine form with a 15:50 5k performance.

The Triveneto Meeting in Trieste, Italy saw Laura Muir (handicap -1.8) and Jemma Reekie (handicap -2.4) battle it out in over 800m. Reekie who was in stunning indoor form pre lockdown continued to show her blossoming potential. Reekie was victorious and happy to get a sub two outdoors for the first time with a time of 1:59.52. In a thrilling race, five time European champion Muir trailed her training partner, running 1:59.54.

In the USA, Josh Kerr (handicap -6.1) was firing on all cylinders in Portland. Kerr fired home in 3:34.53 to win the 1500m. Also impressing over 1500 is the new kid on the block, Josh Lay (handicap -5.1). He ran a huge PB, in Germany, to take top position in 3:38.75. Luke Duffy (handicap -3.7) also wiped a few seconds from his PB to finish with 3:45.58.

After going to the top of the all-time Northern Ireland rankings for 10k on the road record recently, Ann-Marie McGlynn (handicap -1.3), ran another PB at the “Night of 5k PBs” Pop Up Race in Kildare, clocking 15:50.70

Athletics NI saw record entries in the NI & Ulster 10,000m championships at the Mary Peters track recently. Triathlete, James Edgar  (handicap -1.0) flowed well to win with 30:44.01 after cruising through the 3k in 8:50. One to watch for Tokyo as his times are on par with Ali Brownlee at a similar age. Closing down at the end were Conan McCaughey (handicap -4.0) who took second in 30:55.93 and Andrew Annett (handicap -1.1) in third with 30:58.91.

Catherine Whoriskey (handicap 2.0) was first in the women's race in 36:43.17.

City of Lisburn Athletics Club hosted an inter-club and invitational meeting at the Mary Peters Track last Thursday. The best endurance performances included:   

Men’s 3000m                    Neil Johnston (handicap -5.1)                 8:11.06

Men’s 800m                      Dylan McBride (handicap -2.8)               1:55.46

Women’s 800m                 Katie Kirk (handicap 0.8)                        2:05.49

In the Championchip Ireland Forestside, EIKON Lisburn 10km race James Hunt (handicap -6.1) was majestically victorious in 29:43. Clara Evans (handicap -1.2) was the woman to beat with a clocking 34:02.

In the elite 5km Jenny Nesbitt (handicap -1.5) was in action and clocked 16:13 to finish first female. Nakita Burke (handicap 1.1) PB’d in 16:33 with Olympian, Kerry O’Flaherty (handicap 4.8) next in 17:06 after a winter of injury.

Eoghan Totten (handicap -4.4) was first over the line in the men's 5k in 14:36. Under 20 athlete, Matthew Neill (handicap -3.3), crossed the line in second with 15:01.