Rachel ‘runs’ up more titles

Within 8 days the talented Martinstown runner, from Ballymena & Antrim Athletic Club, achieved impressive double Ulster Championship titles.

Rachel ran at the Ulster Indoor Championships in Magherafelt on 9th of February and won the 800m race by an exciting 6 seconds. This was exceptional given that Rachel’s training has been focused on cross country and to win in this style without any tapering or speed work shows a depth of talent.

Just a mere 4 days later Rachel donned her cross country spikes once more and in what can only be described as “ploughed” conditions underfoot. Rachel led from start to finish and appeared to be effortless as she ran home clear by one of the largest margins on the day to gain her second Ulster Title.

Rachel a year 8 pupil at Ballymena Academy has joined the elite number of pupils from the school to win an Ulster Schools Cross Country Gold. The last and only other girl to finish first was J Manson in 1972 & 1973. Only 3 boys to date have achieved gold at the Ulster Cross Country finals, J Bailie 1970, M Kirk 1980 and J Gage 1995, Rachel now brings the 6th Ulster Schools Cross Country title to the school.

Rachel is too young under the rules of the competition to join her older sister Suzannah who will be running at the All Ireland Schools Cross Country Finals on the 9th March at the University of Ulster Jordanstown campus.

She is however focusing her attention on the Irish Indoor Championships to be held at the new AIT Stadium in Athlone on 23rd & 24th March, where both sisters will compete against the best in Ireland.