Astin and Mullarkey deliver PB performances in Trafford Grand Prix

Both Manx athletes finish 6th in 5000m

Two Manx athletes held their own with dominating personal-best performances at the latest Trafford Grand Prix in Manchester.

David Mullarkey and Sarah Astin were in action in the 5,000 metres races. Both ran personal best times, dipping under 14 and 16 minutes respectively for the first time.

The two races were very similar, with the leader running away from the rest of the field, and the Manx athletes being at the heart of the following packs.

The women ran first, and after Jenny Nesbitt broke into a clear lead, Sarah was one of several athletes to take turns at leading the chasing pack. She was always on target to break the 16-minute barrier, and as the field fragmented a little on the last couple of laps she crossed the line in sixth place in a time of 15 minutes 59.13 seconds.

If ratified this time will be a new IOM record, taking 7.27 seconds off the mark set by Rachael Franklin last year. Significantly this gives her another Commonwealth Games consideration time, and is way inside the standard of 16.15.

It was almost a replica in the men’s race.

Tom Mortimer cleared off into a big lead by mid-race, and David was always in amongst the next group. He looked really strong, and as the race unfolded in a similar pattern to the women’s race he finished sixth just as Sarah had done.

His time of 13 minutes 56.52 seconds was only 6.46 seconds shy of the IOM record set by Keith Gerrard in 2012, and makes David only the second Manx athlete to break the 14-minute mark for the distance.

Report by Manx Athletics.