McInulty gets up to speed
Path ‘n’ Downs Marathon
Maxine McInulty of Larkfield AC left the field behind to win the half-marathon at Sunday’s Path ‘n’ Downs races, writes Alan Newman.
McInulty (W35 Larkfield, 1hr34min51sec) took the women’s award from Christine Costiff (W50 South London Harriers, 1: 36.14) and Elise Rendall (W35 Paddock Wood, 1: 36.57).
Sharon Barnett (W40 Maidstone Harriers, 1: 38.57) was fourth and Bridget Ostrehan ( W40 Larkfield, 1:43.36) also made the top 10.
There were 280 runners in the popular A20 races held in favourable weather from Hollingbourne.
The marathon was won in spectacular fashion by defending champion Edward Catmur (Thames Hare and Hounds) in 2:40.49 – 38 seconds slower than last year.
Andy Morton (Kent AC, 2: 57.32) and unattached Paul Galt (2: 57.38) were also under three hours.
Local men in the frame included third M40 master Adrian Perkins (Maidstone Harriers, 3:11.23) and Paul Albon (Medway Tri, 3:41.23).
Maryann Devally (W45 Serpentine, 3:19.27) took the women’s race with a massive improvement of 48 minutes over her previous marathon attempt.
Ellan Iaquaniello (W40 Larkfield, 4: 08.58) and Liane Foord (W50 Maidstone Harriers, 4:14.05) were the best of the local women’s entries.
The men’s half-marathon saw a close finish between veterans Anthony Constantinou (Collingwood AC, 1:26.35) and Martin King (South Kent Harriers, 1: 26.45).
Daniel Witt (Sevenoaks, 1: 29.12), Derren Croucher (Staplehurst Striders, 1: 31.32) and Kevin Ostrehan (M45 Larkfield, 1: 32.46) all featured, while Coxheath Running Club’s Paul Moakes clocked a personal-best 1: 35.54 despite an injury-hit year.
Penny won in 36.50 from first M40 master Stephen Turpie (Maidstone Harriers, 37.48), Colin Ives (unattached, 38.35) and James Sieloff (Sittingbourne Striders, 39.22).
Sarah Hutchings (47.42) was first woman and Alison Davey ( W35 Sittingbourne, 49.51) was third.
The Ashford Tri Club hosted their annual 6.66-mile trail run with 156 finishers led by Dan Sims in 45.03.
Sam Begg of Tunbridge Wells Harriers ran 46.23, while Bob Fursey (M50 M& M, 54.25), David Thornby (M60 Maidstone Harriers, 55.47) and Adrian Moody (M55 M& M, 56.37) all finished.
Suzanne Warburton Maidstone Harriers, 1:14.30) ran the women’s event won by Barbara Grogan (1: 00.04) of the host club.
(W50 Leading results: Men: 1 Tom Purnell ( Canterbury Harriers); 2 Gavin Kitchingham ( M40 Orpington Road Runners); 3 Craig Chapman ( M40 Tunbridge Wells Harriers); 4 Aaron Hughes ( M40 Maidstone Harriers); 5 Owen Mitchell ( Thanet Road Runners), 6 Keith Dowson ( M50 Sevenoaks). Over- 60: John Tolhurst ( Paddock Wood). Women: 1 Maria Heslop ( W45 Paddock Wood); 2 Julie Stoppani ( W45 Maidstone Harriers); 3 Annette Shrimpton ( W35 Orpington Road Runners); 4 Catherine Roberts ( W35 Maidstone Harriers); 5 Shirley Exall ( W45 Paddock Wood); 6 Lesley Mercer ( W35 Tunbridge Wells Harriers). Over-55: Janet Lenton ( Orpington Road Runners). Men’s teams: 1 Orpington Road Runners 4,282 points; 2 Thanet Roadrunners 3,824; 3 Maidstone Harriers 3,814; 4 Tunbridge Wells Harriers 3,695; 5 Sevenoaks 2,632; 6 Canterbury Harriers 2,143. Women’s teams: 1 Maidstone Harriers 1,456; 2 Tunbridge Wells Harriers 1,140; 3 Paddock Wood 1,127; 4 Orpington Road Runners 1,126; 5 Larkfield 806; 6 Thanet Roadrunners 610.