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Crossan lifts 100km Bronze
24.06.09
TOP Irish female ultra
runner, Helena Crossan ran a superb tactical race to
finish third in the European 100km Championships
last Saturday.
The Inishowen athlete also claimed sixth spot in the
World Championships, staged concurrently. The
competition took place in Torhout, Belgium. After
starting at 8pm on Friday, the athletes ran through
the night hours on a flat, winding course of 20km. |
In a magnificent battle
for European bronze, Crossan overhauled German rival
Branka Hajek with ten miles remaining. She never
looked back.
Indeed, the Irish 100km record holder and 2009 Anglo
Celtic Plate/Home Nations champion was quicker than
all of her European and global rivals over the final
quarter of the gruelling 62.1 mile event. |
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First and second place in the European competition
went to Irina Vishnevskaya (Russia) and Moncia
Carlin (Italy), respectively, while Kami Semik of
the USA took the world title.
"Although Crossan's finish time of 8:04:39 was
outside her own Irish record of 7:52:47, it was a
truly fantastic performance in the breezy, cool
conditions. Her medal represents another milestone
for Irish ultra runners," said a proud spokesperson
for Inishowen Athletics Club. |
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