Racing galore in Northern Ireland last weekend
Northern Ireland runners were spoilt for choice at the weekend with a 10,000m track race, cross country and a road race to choose from. Chasing another world record, Tommy Hughes was involved with the fastest track 10,000m event in the UK and Ireland for 2020 at the Mary Peters Track on Saturday that saw the overall winner clock 28:30.91. Behind this time Tommy Hughes was chasing another M60 world record of 33:57.
The Athletics Northern Ireland Winter Sprints and 10,000m meet took place on the Mondo track set in beautiful, sheltered surroundings in the Lagan Valley. This was one of the fastest 10,000m races in the UK and Ireland in the last decade. World Masters Athlete of the Year, Tommy Hughes (handicap -2.5 ) fell short of another world record but clocked a very credible 34:02.52, just 5 seconds down on Mike Hagar’s world and UK record.
Dublin based, Sean Tobin won the overall 10,000m in a PB of 28:30.91 after sharing the pace with steeplechaser Brian Fay (28:41.70) and 1500m man Andrew Coscoran (29:01.21). Tobin who is building for endurance selection in Tokyo closed in with a lively 14:05 final 5k. Mick Hill (handicap -3.5) continues to impress and set a runbritain M45 2020 lead time of 31:23.11. This was more impressive as he had considered pulling out with a foot problem on the morning of the event.
At the Bobby Rea Cross Country races in Dundonald on Sunday, the overall 2019 British and Masters International cross-country winner Mark Mckinstry (handicap -4.3) was on winning form, a day after running a 10 000m PB in Belfast. Catherine Whoriskey (handicap 1.7), was a comfortable winner in the women’s race (pictured below in red).
After new lockdown measures, the rearranged Greencastle 5 miler saw some quality running from men’s winner Conor Duffy in 24:33, pulling 4 seconds away from Neil Johnston (handicap -5.3). Junior Matthew Neil (handicap -3.3) impressed with 25:20. Another student, Grace Carson (handicap 0.9) was a comfortable 28:12 women’s winner.