Nick Grigg’s meteoric rise in the world of athletics continued apace on Saturday night when he set a new Northern Ireland record at the Podium 5K in Leicester.
Griggs finished fourth behind three east African athletes clocking a time of 13 minutes and 39 seconds. However, the Tyrone man still remains well off Alistair Cragg’s Irish mark of 13:26 set in Carlsbad, California almost exactly 12 years ago.
The race in Leicester was won by Ethiopia’s two-time world gold medallist Hagos Gebrhiwet in 13:19 with the Kenyan duo of Amos Langat (13:24) and Daniel Kosen (13:52) filling the other podium places.
More impressive was the host of top Britons that the Tyrone teenager left in his wake including former world 1500m champion Jake Wightman who finished back in 11th with a personal best 13:52 timing. Irish 3000m indoor champion John Travers finished 38th in 14:26.
Griggs burst on the scene three years ago when he won the European Junior 3000m title at just 16. He went to Jerusalem last summer to defend his title, taking silver.
Later in the year he led Ireland to team gold in the Junior (U20) race at the European Cross Country Championships in Brussels, claiming third place the after having won silver individual and team at the same competition in 2022.
Grigg’s made his senior debut at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest last summer in the 1500m and is the current holder of the Irish Junior records over 1500m, mile, 3,000m and 5,000m. The CNDR club man stated recently that his number one target this year is the European Athletics Championships in Rome this June.
Not so good news from Portugal where Stephen Scullion failed to finish the Lisbon Half Marathon.
It would appear to be Scullion’s first race since last autumn when he finished third in the Dublin Marathon claiming the national title for the distance.
This will be disappointing for the Belfast man who is targeting the marathon at the Paris Olympics and will need to run almost two minutes faster that his lifetime best at next month’s London Marathon if he is to qualify.
At home a massive field of 4500 runners, and not a few leprechauns, came under starter’s orders for Sunday morning’s Craic 10K road race from the City Hall.
Annadale Strider Stephen Connolly was the first finisher in 31:42 followed home by Ballydrain Harrier David Spalding who was 20 seconds back. Beechmount Harrier Chris Madden took third in 32:21.
Sophie Wood from the Sale Harriers club in Manchester was first woman across the line recording a 35:10 timing.
Annadale Strider Dearbhla Cox was next woman to finish in 35:38 while third prize looks destined for Elisoa Crawford in 37:06 after another impressive run from the North Belfast Harrier.
Willowfield Harrier Garry Morrow (72:27) and Cathy McCourt (92:17) were the winners of the half marathon at the Washingbay Green Run. James Downey (37:24) was first in the 10K where Ciara Ryan (43:35) was the leading woman. Annadale Strider David Rutherford (16:49) and Laura Quinn (20:48) were best in the 5K.
