Sky’s the limit for East Coast’s Maxwell in gruelling 80k race

East Coast AC’s Justin Maxwell put in a top-class performance in the 80k Ultra Marathon in Chamonix, France on Friday (June 27).
Justin Maxwell in action in the 80k Ultra Marathon in Chamonix. INLT 27-925-CONJustin Maxwell in action in the 80k Ultra Marathon in Chamonix. INLT 27-925-CON
Justin Maxwell in action in the 80k Ultra Marathon in Chamonix. INLT 27-925-CON

The 2014 Skyrunning World Championships race was his preparation for the upcoming Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc ‘CCC’ in August.

Starting at 4am, Justin joined a thousand world-class athletes in a new course which would see him face challenging and technical terrain including 6,000m of vertical climb along ridges, over snow fields, crossing into Swiss territory and traversing glaciers in a point to point loop from the town of Chamonix. He produced a magnificent display, covering the 53 miles in 13:14:56 to secure 39th place.

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Scotland-based John McManus was in action on Sunday (June 29) when he completed the famous Marathon du Mont-Blanc in 5:23:19.

Elsewhere, six East Coast members took to the streets of Newtownards for the annual Ards Half-Marathon on Friday.

Three days after being crowned the male vet40 East Antrim Harriers Forest Series winner, Andy Guy was back in competition producing a top-20 finish in 1:21:38. David Clarke showed no signs of fatigue from his excellent performance on Tuesday (EAH Forest Series – Woodburn) when he crossed the line less than one minute later in 1:22:28 (24th place).

Janice Plumb was 15th placed lady (1:37:19), while Kerry Fokkens ran 1:41:00 (20th lady) and Penny Lindsay 1:41:07 (21st place lady). All three ladies were rewarded for their efforts with a bronze team medal.

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Sandy Plumb joined his wife and club-mates at the finish area after completing the course in 2:15:07, taking 551st place.

East Coast AC’s international triathlete, Adele Neill, put in a top-class performance across all three disciplines at Friday’s Peninsula Sea Sprint Triathlon, earning her a well-deserved podium place. She secured third in the ladies’ category in an overall time of 1:47:17.

Parkrun

On Saturday morning James Robinson claimed top spot at the Larne parkrun in a personal best time of 19:36.

Alex Robertson cruised into the finish line in 22:50, taking 10th place. Matthew McIlroy followed shortly after in a time of 23:02, securing 12th place. Callum McIlroy marked his fifth parkrun with a well-deserved personal best when he joined his older brother in the finish area, completing the course in 23:17 (14th place).

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Michelle Clarke made herparkrun debut in fine fashion when she secured third in the ladies’ race (26:52). Morna Wright covered the tough course in 28:42, taking fifth in the ladies’ category. Parkrun regular Hannah Girvin ran 29:11 (8th lady, pb).

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