Neill and Maxwell produce fantastic weekend displays

Podium places, prizes and personal bests were once again achieved as East Coast AC athletes took on events in Larne, Ballymoney, Islandmagee and Cookstown.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Jul 2014, 12:08 BST
East Coasts Adele Neill won the ladies race at the Browns Bay Beast.East Coasts Adele Neill won the ladies race at the Browns Bay Beast.
East Coasts Adele Neill won the ladies race at the Browns Bay Beast.

A range of the club’s talented athletes excelled, but it was Adele Neill and Justin Maxwell who produced the week’s top performances with Neill winning the ‘Browns Bay Beast’ triathlon and Maxwell, usually known for his exploits over and above marathon distance, claiming two podium places at road races in Ballymoney and Cookstown.

It was Maxwell who got the weekend under way with a third-place finish at the ‘Milk Run’ in Ballymoney on Friday evening, kicking off a busy training spell with a speedy effort, crossing the line in 27:20.

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On Saturday, international duathlete Neill claimed an impressive victory as six club members, who were accompanied by a large support crew from the club, performed well at the notoriously challenging Browns Bay Beast Triathlon in Islandmagee.

Podium regular, Neill completed the 1.5k swim, 40k cycle and 10k run in an excellent 2:25:10, this ensured top honours in the ladies’ race.

Corey Urwin (25th – 2:25:28), Danny Hylands (35th – 2:30:03), Stephen Millar (38th – 2:30:55), Stephen Whelan (41st – 2:31:46) and Murray Deller (46th – 2:35:06) also put in strong performances on what was an excellent day for East Coast AC.

On Sunday Justin Maxwell, Janice Plumb and Chris Davis (accompanied by supporters) travelled to County Tyrone for the Cookstown Half-Marathon. The event was also the ninth race in the 2014 Pure Running-Champion Chip Ireland Half Marathon Series.

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Maxwell claimed his second podium place of the weekend when he covered the hilly course in 1:15:28, securing third place.

Plumb continued her excellent form in the series, with another impressive performance and personal best, completing the distance in 1:32:13 which secured eighth place in the ladies’ race and first in her category.

Davis ran very well throughout the tough out-and-back course and his hard work paid off when he achieved a new half-marathon personal best of 1:37:24, claiming 88th place.

n Selected East Coast AC Larne parkrun results (5k): 3rd, Daniel Girvin (19:18); 17th, Callum McIlroy (23:36), 1st lady, Katie Wilson (24:35); 29th, Paul Clements (25:00); 34th, Sandy Plumb (25:53); 45th, Lionel Date (27:13), 9th lady, Hannah Clements (28:47).