NI & Ulster Team Selected for the Perkins Great Eastern Run Half Marathon

Many congratulations to the following athletes who have been selected to represent Northern Ireland & Ulster in the 2019 Perkins Great Eastern Run on Sunday 13^th October. The Half Marathon is part of the Inter Area Series where NI & Ulster compete against Scotland, Wales, North of England, Midlands of England, South of England and the Armed Forces.

Athletics Northern Ireland is pleased to have selected athletes that will be competitive in the Men’s race. Because October is marathon season, many of our best female half marathon runners are competing in Berlin or Dublin or are focusing on the Leeds Abbey Dash 10k that takes place just two weeks later, therefore we have decided not to enter a women’s team for this event.

Conor Bradley (City of Derry Spartans AC) who finished a fine track season with a 13:56 5000m will now turn his attention to the roads. Last year, he opened his autumn season at the Commonwealth Half Marathon Championships where he ran his personal best of 67:31. He will aim to better that this year when he puts on the NI & Ulster vest again in Peterborough.

He will be joined by Conan McCaughey (North Belfast Harriers) who has been in the shape of his life this summer. His best time of 68:30 was run at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Dublin this year where conditions were far from perfect. Northern Ireland & Ulster Half Marathon bronze medalist, Gary Slevin (Foyle Valley AC) who boasts a PB of 68:30 and Foyle Valley AC team mate, Craig Simpson who ran 69:19 in the same event complete the quartet.

Director of Coaching and Athlete Development, Jackie Newton, said “The Perkins Great Eastern Run Half Marathon will provide this team with a great opportunity to rewrite their personal best times. The course is flat, fast and as this is an Inter Area competition, we are expecting the standard to be high with plenty of runners around 65 – 70 minutes. Last year more UK runners finished inside 70 minutes than in any other UK Half Marathon.”

“Additionally, the course is interesting as it takes the runners around the city centre with fabulous spectator support. I would like to wish our team the best of luck and hope that this experience will benefit their development towards high level performance.”