Kirsty Longley takes W50 win days after sister's death
Kirsty Longley finished first in the W50 category at the Altrincham 10km with a time of 35:20, just 11 seconds off the British age-group best, days after
Kirsty Longley won the W50 category at the Altrincham 10km road race on September 6. Her time of 35:20 placed her just 11 seconds outside Fiona Matheson's British age-group best and third on the all-time list for the category.
According to a report by Martin Duff in Athletics Weekly, Longley revealed the run came just days after a personal tragedy. She said her sister had suddenly passed away from organ failure on the Monday before the race, after Longley returned from Switzerland.
Running Through Grief
Longley stated that her initial plan was not to race competitively. "The grief is heavy but running has always been my space to process," she said. After only managing to jog during the week, she decided to start the event with the simple aim of putting one foot in front of the other.
The result was unexpected. Her performance secured the age-group victory and a notable position on the British all-time rankings. Longley has previously battled her own physical problems, the report notes.
Race Results
The Altrincham 10km was won outright by Omar Ahmed in 29:23. He beat Richard Allen by a 13-second margin. In the elite women's race, Dominique Coradi of City of Leeds led a club one-two-three, winning in 33:55. Georgia Malir was second in 34:14, and Sarah Potter finished close behind.
| Category | Winner | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Overall | Omar Ahmed | 29:23 | 13-second winning margin |
| Women's Overall | Dominique Coradi | 33:55 | Led City of Leeds podium sweep |
| Women's W50 | Kirsty Longley | 35:20 | 11 seconds outside British W50 best |
Other Events
The report also covered the Farringdon Cross-Country Relays in Sunderland on September 6. North Shields Poly won the senior men's race over three 1.8-mile legs in a total time of 27:31. Jordan Bell of Blackhill Bounders ran the fastest individual leg of 9:04.
Elswick Harriers won the women's race in 33:57, with Justina Heslop anchoring the team with the second-fastest women's leg of 10:57. The fastest women's leg was run by Amy Etherington of Crook, who clocked 10:44 on the final stage to lift her team to second place.
Elsewhere, Lloyd Sheppard-Brown marked his return from racing in the United States with a victory at the 40th Cardiff 10km.
