Kevin Seaward impresses at Reading Half Marathon
20 March 2017
Olympian Kevin Seaward (Coach: Andrew Hobdell) put in a strong performance at the Reading Half Marathon this weekend (Sunday 19th March 2017), despite the blustery conditions. The St Malachy’s AC man finished just outside his current personal best to take 5th place in 1:05:38.
Northern Ireland international Stephen Scullion (Aldershot, Farnham & District AC) made a welcome return to competitive action with a 1:08:17 finish for 16th place. Great Britain & NI athlete Andy Vernon sealed victory in a new course record of 1:03:08.
In other news:
BMAF Cross Country Championships
North Belfast Harriers trio Matt Shields, David Clarke and John Patience picked up medals at the British Masters Athletics Federation (BMAF) Cross Country Championships in Liverpool (Saturday 18th March 2017).
The men took on an 8k course, with Matt Shields leading the Vet60 competitors home in 29:45 (1st place). David Clarke collected bronze in the Vet55 category, after crossing the line in 28:27 (3rd place). Matt and David, joined by John Patience (15th place Vet55 in 32:11), guided North Belfast Harriers to victory in the Vet55-Vet64 team competition.
AES Larne Half Marathon
Records tumbled at the 25th annual AES Larne Half Marathon (Saturday 18th March 2017), where nearly 2,000 competitors took on the picturesque coastal route. Mark McKinstry (North Belfast Harriers) set a new men’s course record of 1:11:32 for 1st place and was followed across the line by club mate John Black in a new personal best of 1:11:56 (2nd place) – Willowfield Harriers’ Neill Weir completed the top three in 1:12:16 (3rd place).
In-form Laura Graham (Mourne Runners) recorded a sizeable personal best to lead the ladies field home in a new course record of 1:16:59 (1st place). Commonwealth Games athlete Gladys Ganiel O’Neill (North Belfast Harriers) crossed the line in 1:19:12 (2nd place), while Amy Bulman (Willowfield Harriers) claimed 3rd place in 1:21:16.
Sourced: NiRunning