THE 23rd staging of the Armagh International Road Race saw Sligo’s Mary Cullen smash the Women’s 3 Kilometre race’s course record by more than six seconds last night.
Cullen, a former European Athletics Indoor bronze medallist, signalled her intentions from the start and finished in a time of 9:07.88 minutes, ahead of Ava Hutchinson (DSD AC) and Kerry Harty (Newcastle AC) in second and third respectively.
Hutchinson’s 9:16.96mins was just outside the course record of 9:15mins set by Kate Reed (Bristol & West AC) in 2006 while Harty crossed the line almost 13 seconds later.
The Men’s 5k race saw American Ethan Shaw prevail in a time of 14:11.71mins, ahead of Derby’s Richard Weir in 14:12.40mins and Annadale Strider’s Paul Pollock who finished in 14:12.46mins.
Shaw showed patience throughout the race and a strong finish allowed him to cross the line marginally ahead of the chasing pack, with Weir and Pollock ending neck and neck.
Lagan Valley AC’s Conal Kirk grabbed the glory in the Men’s 3k race as a late surge helped him finish in an impressive 8:45.87mins with North Down AC’s Niall Robinson and Dunshaughlin AC’s Robbie Matthews claiming the other podium places.
Thousands of spectators and competitors packed the floodlit Mall for one of the biggest dates in Northern Ireland’s athletic calendar and were rewarded with a night of quality racing.
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