Caitriona Jennings (Letterkenny AC) has claimed gold at the first edition of the IAU 50Km European Championships in Sotillo de Adrada, Avila, Spain this morning (October 8th).
The Letterkenny AC athlete crossed the finish in a time 3.19.42 having broken away from the pack after the halfway point of the race.
Jennings was with the leading pack from the gun, running with fellow teammate Sorcha Loughnane (Donore Harriers) until just after the halfway point before gradually upping her pace over the final 15km.
Loughnane would ultimately finish 6th in a brilliant display from the national 50km champion, but the race was dominated by Jennings who managed to open up an almost one-minute gap on the field heading into the final 5k.
The national 50km record-holder didn’t relent over the closing stages and powered all the way to the finish with an average pace of 4-minutes per kilometre to take the title ahead of Lavender of Great Britain and Stelmach of Poland.
1. CAITRIONA JENNINGS - IRL 03:19:42
2. ALISON LAVENDER - GBR 03:21:26
3. DOMINIKA STELMACH - POL 03:21:50
6. SORCHA LOUGHNANE - IRL 03:26.46
Full results: HERE