On Sunday 1st May 2022 Larne AC took a bus to represent Larne AC in 40th Anniversary of the Belfast City Marathon. On a damp start to the day the grey weather didn`t put a dampener on the fine performances put in by all and with the large support along the route from fellow LAC members this turned out to be a great event for the Club.
Full Marathon
Four members took on the full gruelling 26.2 miles pushed on by the great atmosphere and support from our Club members and fellow Larne contingent.
Emma McKeen was first home for the club running the 40th Anniversary race to celebrate her 40th year gracing this earth. Emma`s training took a bit of an interruption when unfortunately she fell to the dreaded virus, but she picked up her training again and got to the starting line in great shape. Stomach problems on the 15 mile hampered her PB attempt but she finished in a great sub 4 hr time of 3:54:07 in 1170 position.
Next home for Club was Gail Montgomery who trained and ran the 26.2 miles with her sister Jacqueline Black along with Emma making up the trio of sisters running the main event.
Three sisters running in the same marathon is pretty amazing but what Gail did totally out shone this fact as Gail drove herself to the limits training and running the marathon to raise money for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Antrim Area Hospital in memory her son Luke.
Wee Luke will be so proud of his Mum as we all are, for Gail completed the marathon in an amazing time of 4:55:16 in 2578th position raising approx. £3,000 for the charity, off the scale Gail well done.
Next home and First Male Finisher for the Club was Andrew Davidson who’s training also was interrupted by covid. Andrew ran a controlled paced race to complete the 26.2 miles in a great time of 4:55:55 in 2582nd place.
Unfortunately David Noble had to pull out around mile 15 with injury, hope you`re back to full fitness again soon Davy.
Relay Race
Four teams from Larne AC took part in the Relay Race with great results even after the male teams being totally depleted through injury and illness.
Female Teams
Female Team A made up of Charlotte English, Juliane Keane, Ashlynn Rodgers, Ciara McLaughlin and Niamh McLaughlin put in a great shift to finish sub 3:30 in the top 100th places in a fabulous 80th position with an amazing time of 3:28:33
Female Team B made up of Pearl Henry, Shiree McCosh Brennan, Diane Hawthorne, Teresa Evens and Catherine Todd had put in a great effort to finish 1056th position in 4:24:17.
Male Teams
Male Team A with Jordan Heron having to pull out through illness and John Steele having to drop into Team B to cover positions this left the Team A with three runners. Sean McAllister ran leg 1 & 2, Martan Keane ran legs 3 & 4 and Alan Lockington completed leg 5. The rearrangements didn`t have any effect on the fabulous performances these three men put in as they finished in an absolutely amazing 18th position just missing out in that much coveted sub 3 hr time by finishing in 3:01:14. Great effort guys well done.
Male Team B with Allan McCullough and Billy Thompson pulling out with injury, John Steele had to drop into Team B to run the last two legs. Mark Todd ran the first leg, Gerry Campbell the second leg, Paul Tilson ran the third leg and John Steele ran leg 4 & 5. As per the A Team the upheavals didn`t hinder the performances too much as Team B finished in 36th position in a great time of 3:16:28.
Well Done All : The performances and support from you all really did the Club Proud. Great to see our colours all over major races again.
