Gladys Ganiel Runs Fastest Time for NI Women at the Belfast Marathon
14 May 2019
Former NI Commonwealth Games athlete Gladys Ganiel (North Belfast Harriers) took the NI & Ulster title at the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon on Sunday 5th May 2019, where she ran the fastest time for a Northern Ireland based female in the Belfast Marathon.
Gladys finished in a PB time of 2:37:32, which is the 5th fastest time of all time for NI women at the marathon distance.
Coach, Matt Shields has stated: “This was for me the best performance that Gladys has ever produced. She ran a PB on an over distance and difficult course, plus she ran the fastest Belfast Marathon time ever by a Northern Ireland based female. When you also consider her age, employment and family status I think this just makes it all the more amazing. I couldn't have asked for more from her.”
We had previously announced the 2nd and 3rd places for the NI & Ulster Women, however, after video analysis of the finish line, this has been adjusted to the following: the second NI & Ulster lady was Louise Smith (North Belfast Harriers) in a time of 2:57:56 and 3rd was Eimear Nicholl (Armagh AC) in a time of 2:58:21.
For the Marathon Wheelchair Race, Jim Corbett (Torque Racing Club) claimed victory in a time of 2:19:21, with Karol Doherty finishing in 2nd place in 2:33:06 (beating his 2018 time of 2.46.34). In 3rd place was James Divin (City of Derry Spartans) in a time of 2:35.:48.
For the Men, it was Jarlath McKenna (Bristol & West) who took the NI & Ulster title, coming 6th overall in a time of 2:26:18. Following closely behind was Acorn AC’s Vincent McKenna in a time of 2:30:41 and the 3rd NI & Ulster Male was Max Travers (Annadale Striders) in a time of 2:35:23.
In the team competition Willowfield Harriers team of Neil Weir, Brian Kinsella and Garry Morrow, took 1st place in the NI & Ulster Championship with a combined time of 7:56:48. In 2nd place was Annadale Striders team of Max Travers, Simon Murray and Conor McMullan, in a combined time of 08:05:38, and in 3rd place was Springwell Running Club's team of Chris Denton, Jason Scott and Aaron Moffatt, with a time of 8:27:31.
North Belfast Harriers won the Women’s Team competition, with Gladys Ganiel, Louise Smith and Roisin Hughes finishing with a combined time of 8:36:25. The 2nd team was Armagh AC with Eimear Nicholl, Niamh Donnelly and Jacqueline Wright running a combined time of 9:11:54 and in 3rd place was the Beechmount Harriers team of Gerrie Short, Rachel McCloskey and Aine Hughes who finished in a time of 09:34:28.
A full list of the results is available on the Belfast Live website at www.belfastlive.co.uk and on the Belfast City Marathon website at www.belfastcitymarathon.com.