Seaward Breaks NI Marathon Record in Seville

24 February 2020

Seaward Breaks NI Marathon Record in Seville

34 year old school teacher, Kevin Seaward became the 3rd Northern Ireland Marathon runner to qualify for this summer’s Tokyo Olympics with a new NI record time of 2 hours 10 minutes and 9 seconds in yesterday’s Seville Marathon.

This is the 3rd time the Marathon record has been broken inside 3 months, with Belfast’s Stephen Scullion first breaking the 30 year old record set by Greg Hannon (2:13.06), in November at the Dublin Marathon with a time of 2:12.01. It was then broken again only a month later by Holywood’s Paul Pollock at the Valencia Marathon in December with a time of 2:10.17.

Kevin will now join both Stephen and Paul on the road to Tokyo as his time now sets him in 2nd place on the Irish All Time list, behind John Treacy. The Commonwealth Games athlete faced a World Class field in Seville and went through the halfway mark in 37th place in a time of 1:05.25, to finish in 26th place overall.

British Masters Indoor Pentathlon Championships

2020-trevormcglynnbmafindoorpentathlon.jpgTrevor McGlynn (Omagh Harriers) set a new Irish record for the M40 age category on Sunday 23rd February while competing at the BMAF Indoor Pentathlon Championships in Lee Valley. He set a new record of 3071 points, gaining 1st place in his category and 2nd place overall.

Full results can be found here: https://data.opentrack.run/x/2020/GBR/bmaf635/event/

NI & Ulster Senior Cross Country Championships

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The NI & Ulster Senior Cross Country Championships returned to the Ulster University, Coleraine, sponsored by Philip Tweedie & Company. Clonliffe Harriers’ Emma Mitchell and Springwell Running Club’s Neil Johnston were the clear winners on the extremely windy, but firm new course.

The NI 5,000m and 10,000m record holder, Emma Mitchell made her first Cross Country appearance in over 4 years on Saturday, leading a huge 200 strong Women’s field around the 6k to finish in 1st place in a time of 24:09. In 2nd place was City of Derry Spartans’ Catherine Whoriskey who finished in a time of 24:47, leading her club into 3rd place.

The battle for 3rd place between last year’s 2nd place, Sarah Lavery (Beechmount Harriers) and triathlete Lauren Wilson (Lagan Valley AC), with Lauren seizing the podium spot in a time of 24:53, leaving Sarah in 4th place in 25:02.

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The North Down AC women took the Team honours once again for the 4th time in a row with a total of 58 points, while Beechmount Harriers fought hard, to finish in 2nd place overall with 61 points. In 3rd place were the City of Derry Spartans with 71 points.

The Men’s 12k race gave spectators an rollercoaster event, with the defending Champion Mark McKinstry (North Belfast Harriers) leading from the outset, with Annadale Strider’s Eskander Turki and Springwell Running Club’s Neil Johnston hot on his heels.

The double UK Masters Champion was overtaken by home favourite, Johnston and the recent NI & Ulster Intermediate runner up, Turki. Following close behind was the NI & Ulster Intermediate Champion, Patrick McNiff (Newcastle AC), East Down AC’s Aaron McGrady and two time Senior Champion, Declan Reed (City of Derry Spartans)

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At the half way point, Johnston broke free of Turki and gradually increased his lead to win in 44:47, with Turki in 2nd place in 45:06. In 3rd place was Mark McKinstry in 45:47, with Patrick McNiff in 4th place in 45:53, leading his club to an overall victory with a total of 76 points.

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Four-time winners, City of Derry Spartans finished in 2nd place with a total of 101 points, while North Belfast Harriers finished in 3rd with 161 points.

The full results are available on our website: www.athleticsni.org/Results

Pictures from Saturday’s Cross Country are available on the website and on our facebook page:

www.athleticsni.org/Gallery

https://www.facebook.com/AthleticsNI/