Alexander and Agnew run well at Belfast Bannister Festival

Larne AC’s Robin Alexander and Martin Agnew took part in the Bannister Festival of Miles at the Mary Peters Track in midweek.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th May 2014, 07:11 BST
AthleticsAthletics
Athletics

The event, organised by NiRunning.co.uk and the British Milers Club, marked the 60th anniversary of Sir Roger Banister being the first man to break the four-minute mile.

Alexander was first off in race three, completing the four laps of the track in a time of 7:40:71.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A heavy rain shower greeted Agnew in race seven and, having taken an early lead, he soon found himself with work to do as Larne man John Black, running for North Belfast Harriers, took the lead for a couple of laps.

Agnew stuck to his race plan and, having made his presence felt, timed his finish to perfection taking the tape in 4:51:53.

Unfortunately the 4-minute barrier wasn’t broken on the day but Mark Hoy of Finn Valley AC finished with a credible time of 4:19:03 in the Elite race. Rachael Gibson was fastest lady with a time of 5:13:49.

Parkruns

Larne AC members took part in parkruns in Ballymena, Carrick, Larne and Scotland this week.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Melissa Whiteside made the most of a trip to Falkirk and completed the parkrun in 29:26. At Carrick, Alvyn McQuitty ran 28:58 while at Ballymena Wayne Morrow came second in a time of 18:03. Kirsty Sharratt finished as first female in a time of 20:48.

At the Larne event 35 club members got into the spirit of the Giro d’Italia by wearing pink Larne AC t-shirts!

Martin Agnew completed a very successful week finishing first in a personal time of 17.51.

David Noble, David Murphy ad Martan Keane all had top-10 finishes, coming in fifth (19:45), seventh (20:20) and ninth (20:52) respectively. Patricia Blair claimed first female finisher in 21:42, followed by Ian Brennan (22:35), Andy Beattie (22.45) and Sammy Drummond (23.12).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Heather Baxter and Mandy Johnston were third and fourth female finishers in times of 24:54 and 24:56. Claire Dickonson was next home (25:49), followed by Juliane Keane (26:24), Jim Evans (26:30) and Elaine Hall in 26:47 (pb).

Gillian Given finished in 26:58, Steven Reid claimed a new personal best of 27:46 with Gabriel and Ashlynn Rodgers close behind in 27.48. Other results: Erin Beattie (28:39), Johnny Hastings (28:42), Robin Alexander (28:43), Laura Brennan (30:57), Irene Beattie (31.04).