Deirdre Martin wins National 50km title as Michelle Lannon pipped for national cross-country title
Carrick AC duo Deirdre Martin and Michelle Lannon both claimed national medals last weekend but over very different distances.
Deirdre Martin won the Athletics Ireland National 50Km title in impressive fashion on Saturday in Donadea, Co Kildare while her clubmate Michelle then claimed a superb silver medal in the 123.ie Athletics Ireland Masters Cross-country in Gowran, Co Kilkenny on Sunday.
Deirdre clocked a time of 3 hrs 35 minutes 11 seconds for the 31 mile distance on Saturday as she finished 11th overall in the prestigious Donadea 50km race. The Carrick athlete finished over eight minutes ahead of the second placed athlete.
Displaying great pace making judgement, Deirdre clocked between 20.46 and 22.22 for her ten laps of Donadea Forest Park, the final lap her slowest of the day.
On Sunday, Michelle Lannon continued her recent run of good form when winning her third National Masters medal in eight days, finishing second in the W50 race at the 123.i3 Athletics Ireland Masters Cross country in Gowran.
After winning the indoor 1,500m & 3,000m, Michelle almost made it a hat-trick of medals when she finished second in the same time as winner Breda Gaffney of Mallow AC, both clocking 15 mins 31 secs for the distance. Michelle finished 15th overall in the race which also included W35 and up categories.
Also on Sunday, Gerard O'Donnell opened his 2023 season with a swift 8.03 seconds clocking over 60m hurdles in Manchester. The time was enough to see the Carrick AC athlete top the 2023 indoor rankings by one hundredth of a second as he prepares to compete in the 123.ie Athletics Ireland Senior Indoor Championships at the Sports Ireland Campus next weekend.