Nolan helps Ireland to team bronze at Antrim Coast Half Marathon
Cheryl Nolan with her family after competing in the Antrim Coast Half Marathon
CHERYL Nolan made an impressive debut over the half marathon distance at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon, representing Ireland as part of a three-athlete team that secured third place.
Nolan produced a superb performance on her first attempt at 13.1 miles, recording a time of 1:14 and finishing in 13th place overall and the second Irish athlete across the line.
Together with Emily Haggard Kearney and Brigid Dennehy, Nolan helped Ireland claim the team bronze medal, finishing behind Ethiopia and England in the international team competition.
For Nolan, the result marks an excellent introduction to the half marathon distance and an encouraging sign of what she can achieve over the longer road racing distance. We look forward to tracking her progress in the months and years ahead.
Stephen Hunter, who is currently in South Korea at the World Masters Championships, won a bronze medal earlier in the week after an impressive performance in the M45 3000m steeplechase in Daegu.
Hunter clocked 11:27 to secure third place in the M45 category at the championships, adding an international medal to an already notable masters athletics career.
In the World Masters Championships athletes have the opportunity to enter the championships themselves and test their ability against the best competitors in their age group from around the world.
Stephen also produced a strong performance in the 10km road race, finishing 34th overall in a time of 36:54 and fifth in the M45 category. That was good enough for fifth place in the M45 category, once again putting him among the leading athletes in his age group.
The two results highlight Hunter's versatility, competing at a high level both on the track over the demanding steeplechase distance and on the roads over 10 kilometres. Stephen is yet to compete in the 8km Cross Country.
