Lavery, Glenn and Clarke make Northern Ireland Masters team

East Coast Athletic Club’s members claimed personal bests, podium places and were selected for international teams at events in Ballymena, Belfast and Dundrum at the weekend.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Oct 2013, 00:02 BST
David Clarke, James Brown, Greg Lavery and Nat Glenn at the NIMAA Masters XC. INLT 42-912-CONDavid Clarke, James Brown, Greg Lavery and Nat Glenn at the NIMAA Masters XC. INLT 42-912-CON
David Clarke, James Brown, Greg Lavery and Nat Glenn at the NIMAA Masters XC. INLT 42-912-CON

As well as this, the club launched its junior section, the East Coast Cheetahs, during an extremely successful Fun Day in Larne’s Town Park on Sunday.

In Belfast, history was created for East Coast AC as Greg Lavery, Nat Glenn, David Clarke and James Brown took on the NIMAA Masters Open Cross Country 8k race, which was also used as the trials for the Northern Ireland Masters XC team. Nat led the trio home in 27:27 (12th place), finishing fifth in his Vet45 category; Greg crossed the line in 27:51 (17th place), claiming sixth place in his Vet40 category and David Clarke clocked 27:59 (20th place) to finish third in his Vet50 category. Unfortunately, James Brown had to withdraw from the race in the early stages because of a calf injury.

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Greg, Nat and David were rewarded for their excellent performances with international selection, meaning that they will represent Northern Ireland at the British & Irish Masters International XC in Wales next month.

Although, several East Coast athletes have represented their country in the past (whilst attached to other clubs); Greg, Nat and David are the first-ever East Coast members to gain international selection for Northern Ireland, since the clubs formation in June 2013.

At the Ecos parkrun on Saturday Daniel Girvin completed the 5k time-trial in a personal best 19:20, securing third. Drew Girvin followed in 20:59 (ninth), before Paula Cosgrove and Andrene Rennie claimed top 10 spots in the ladies’ race; both running new personal bests of 26:09 and 26:22, respectively. Continuing the personal best haul Glenda Girvin (27:27), Jacque Craig (28:13), Amanda Clements (30:38) and Heather Shaw (34:46) also ran well.

Meanwhile, Penny Lindsay and Amanda Peoples lined up with over 600 runners at the GR8 Dundrum Run on Saturday.

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Penny recorded a massive new personal best of 59:34 to take 11th in the ladies’ race and first in the Vet45 category.

Amanda Peoples made a welcome return from injury to complete the tough, multi-terrain course in an excellent 1:06:44 (41st place lady).

Related topics:David ClarkeBelfastBallymena