The Arctic conditions back in March were a world away on Saturday when over 1500 runners lined up for the postponed Larne Half Marathon. Instead of opening the half marathon season and the Pure Running Series, the race finally went ahead in glorious sunshine and soaring temperatures along the picturesque Antrim Coast. It was a double triumph for the North Down girls with an individual win for Julie Balmer and a ladies team success for Julie, Ali Robinson, Jill Aicken and Valerie McDonough, well backed up by Nikki Heywood, Sarah Benton and Andrea Thompson. Simon Robinson was the first to finish of the North Down men.
Julie confidently led the ladies field along the Coast Road despite strong opposition, particularly from Kelly Neeley the former Commonwealth Games track athlete Kelly McNeice in her first half marathon but Julie was too powerful in the second half of the race. Ali was 9th, Jill 22nd and Valerie 25th, all within the top 7 of their category. North Down won the team event with 57 points with Springwell on 70. The mens title went to the Kenyan Freddie Sittuk in record time with North Belfast winning the team event from Larne AC.
Full Results
: AES Larne Half Marathon 2013 Results
|
North Down Women |
|||||||||
|
Pos |
No |
Name |
Category |
Finish |
Chip time |
First Half |
Second Half |
M/F Pos |
Cat Pos |
|
30 |
42 |
Julie Balmer |
FV35 |
1:24:31 |
1:24:29 |
41:23 |
43:08 |
1 |
1 |
|
112 |
141 |
Ali Robinson |
FV35 |
1:33:18 |
1:33:14 |
44:55 |
48:24 |
9 |
4 |
|
197 |
1356 |
Jill Aicken |
FV40 |
1:39:56 |
1:39:49 |
48:41 |
51:16 |
22 |
6 |
|
221 |
529 |
Valerie McDonough |
FV40 |
1:41:09 |
1:40:53 |
50:21 |
50:49 |
25 |
7 |
|
293 |
1351 |
Nikki Heywood |
FO |
1:44:35 |
1:44:20 |
50:37 |
53:59 |
38 |
10 |
|
302 |
116 |
Sarah Benton |
FV40 |
1:45:07 |
1:44:51 |
52:43 |
52:24 |
40 |
12 |
|
411 |
495 |
Andrea Thompson |
FO |
1:51:49 |
1:51:01 |
53:29 |
58:20 |
62 |
20 |
|
North Down Men |
|||||||||
|
Pos |
Bib |
Name |
Category |
Finish |
Chip time |
First Half |
Second Half |
M/F Pos |
Cat Pos |
|
73 |
142 |
Simon Robinson |
MV40 |
1:30:56 |
1:30:56 |
45:03 |
45:53 |
66 |
16 |
|
170 |
945 |
Nick Irvine |
MV35 |
1:38:20 |
1:38:17 |
44:29 |
53:51 |
147 |
40 |
|
204 |
949 |
Michael Jenkins |
MV40 |
1:40:15 |
1:40:09 |
46:52 |
53:23 |
175 |
46 |
|
234 |
516 |
Jonathan Reid |
MV35 |
1:42:00 |
1:41:02 |
50:43 |
51:17 |
200 |
55 |
|
817 |
37 |
Paul Moore |
MV35 |
2:22:56 |
2:21:30 |
1:05:29 |
1:17:28 |
521 |
110 |
Mourne Ultra
Also on Saturday the Mournes bulged with athletes and spectators for the sun-soaked Mourne Mountains Marathon Series with Ultra Marathon (52 miles), Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and 5k distances on offer. Congratulations to Stephen Wylie who took the exteme option, taking 11 hours to go the 52 miles from Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor at 6am to Donard Park, Newcastle and back; experiencing the best scenery the Mourne Mountains has to offer. That was from a chilly start and then through soaring heat. Well done Stephen.
Craigavon Lakes
Still on road race action, Andrew Muir and John McGarvey ran the Craigavon Lakes 10K on Wednesday with Andrew 62nd in 44:30 and John 93rd in 46:50 min.