Podium places for Larne runners

On Saturday morning, David Noble and Geraldine Quigley took on the ECOS parkrun in Ballymena. The weekly 5km time-trial is very popular with Larne AC members, who have notched up numerous race wins and personal bests. This week was no different, David Noble completed the course in 19:13 (sixth place), while Geraldine Quigley won the ladies’ race in a new personal best of 19:42. In Belfast, Elaine Hall completed the Victoria Park parkrun in 26:17, finishing as 16th lady.

Two of the club’s duathletes, David Clarke and Adele Neill, were in action at the Irish Duathlon Championships in Ashford. Hosted by 3Rock Triathlon Club, the event consisted of a 10k run, a 40k cycle, before finishing with a further 5k run.

David covered the distance in an impressive 2:08:35 (56th place), enough to secure an excellent second place in his Vet50 category. Adele crossed the line in 2:19:21 (94th place), achieving eighth place in her Vet35 category.

On Sunday, the local club celebrated further success at the Decathlon 10k and Half Marathon races in Belfast. Nat Glenn continued his training towards the London Marathon, which takes place later this month with an excellent performance, finishing in 3rd place in the 10k race. He crossed the line in 34:20 - a new personal best.

He was followed home by club-mate James Brown (34:21), who finished a mere one second behind to take fourth place and with it, the top Vet35 prize. This was also a Pb for James, knocking 25 seconds off his previous best for the distance. Not to be outdone, Allyson O’Toole also achieved a new 10k personal best, recording 45:40 to finish as ninth-place lady.

In the half-marathon, club chairman Andrew Gregg took on the 13.1-mile distance for the first time in several years. His strategic race plan worked well and saw him clock 1:25:44 to finish in 17th place. David Noble, completing his second race in as many days covered the distance in 1:33:02 (40th place).