Anne’s officially top of the world!
AFTER ALREADY conquering Ireland and Europe, there was incredible news for Anne Gilshinan on Thursday when she was named the best middle distance athlete in the world for 2019 by the United States of America-based World Masters Athletics (W.M.A.) ranking organisation.
The Slaney Olympic club member, who competed in the W55 category during the year, finished ahead of Clare Elms from Great Britain (W56) for the coveted accolade.
She was the only Irish winner from the 16 categories (eight each, male and female), and the only one of her international team-mates to also feature was Joe Gough (M67), runner-up in the male middle distance category.
The overall world champions were from the U.S.A. and Canada respectively, while category prizes for sprints, middle distance, long distance, jumps, throws, combined events and race walks also went to Kazakhstan, Japan, Italy, France, Great Britain, Spain, Germany and Austria respectively.
Anne told the W.M.A. website it was ‘an absolute shock’ to receive such a prestigious award. ‘I never even contemplated that I would be the recipient of this award,’ she said.
‘I feel elated and overjoyed. The standard of competition is exceptionally high in the Masters category.
‘It’s fantastic to get such public recognition for my running. It makes all the hard training worth it,’ she added.
‘I am also thrilled that Master athletes are being recognised as we balance family life, work commitments, and continue to train hard.’
SEENAND HEARD