Maxwell helps Ireland claim 13th spot in world rankings

East Coast AC's Justin Maxwell. INLT 23-926-CON

Alongside team-mates Jonny Steede (unattached), Dan Doherty (Inishowen AC), Paul Tierney (Ambleside AC) and Barry Hartnett (Tipperary Triathlon Club), Maxwell performed well over what was a gruelling course, measuring 85k in distance, with 5,500m of accumulative ascent. He secured 92nd place in 11:09:56, which helped Ireland claim 13th place in the world rankings.

Elsewhere, Phil Smyth took on the seventh race of this year’s Hill & Dale Series in Loughshannah on Thursday. He took tackled a tough five-mile course, which incorporated 1,700ft of ascent and completed it in 1:03:52 to take 141st place.

Johanna McIlroy and Jim Scott completed the third annual North Belfast Harriers Belfast Hills 8.8k mountain-trail race on Saturday. The pair crossed the line side by side in a time of 55:50 to claim 67th (Jim) and 68th (Johanna) place.

Andy Guy was official pacer for Sunday’s third annual running of the SSE Walled City Marathon.

Guy covered the 26.2 miles in a perfect pacing time of 2:59:40, helping a large number of runners achieve the infamous sub-3 hour finish time.

Brian Maltman took part in the Edinburgh Half-Marathon, crossing the finish line in 1:42:41, which wasn’t only an impressive personal best (almost 13 minutes off his previous attempt at the distance) but exceptional given the fact that he only took up running less than year ago during the club’s Jog Larne programme last summer.

Two of East Coast’s star track runners took part in the Leinster Masters Track and Field Championships in Tullamore. Mark McManus and Allyson O’Toole ran 2:31:97 and 2:09:14 respectively in the 800m.

At the second race of this year’s East Antrim Harriers Forest Trail Series, Mark Jordan and Chris Davis both ran well, with Mark making it to the finish line in 22:08, taking 25th, followed by Chris in 22:18 (27th place).

James Robinson, a regular in the series last year, finished in 48th (24:24), before John Steele clocked 25:11 for the distance (60th place – 3rd in age category). Gary Hawe ran well in 26:10 (73rd place). Alan Glover and Lionel Date were only seconds apart, with Alan finishing in 26:58 (87th place) and Alan in 27:03 (89th place). Lesley Robinson claimed 37th place in the ladies category in a time of 30:10.