Michael Collins led home the Irish team at the 100km World and European Championships on 7th November and claimed a veterans bronze medal in the process.
There were over 180 athletes representing 30 nations in the Championships, held in Gibraltar. Race day temperatures were ideal in the mid-teens Celsius.
Collins posted a time of 7:52:08 for a top 50 placing overall in the men's global competition, but significantly was 3rd place finisher in the M45 race behind Asmo Ahola (FIN) and Poul Petersen (DEN).
As second Irish finisher, John Byrne made a great debut at 100km with a time of 8:03:01 while John O'Regan posted a PB of 8:28:10 only weeks after finishing the gruelling Spartathlon in Greece.
In the women's competiton, Aisling Coppinger also posted a PB of 9:09:19 to finish 40th in the World and 28th in Europe. Aisling has improved her PB in every single race since first running 100km in March 2009.
A lot of credit for the results must also go to a fantastic support crew comprising Tony Brennan (manager), Joe Collins, Rob Cummins and Sarah Syron.
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