JIM Ardin won the plaudits as the first Bury Athletic Club member home in the London Marathon.
But it was a bitter-sweet moment after he finished frustratingly just short of his personal best, completing the course in 2mins 49mins 28secs – only 34 seconds slower than his previous best set in London in 2013.
Byron Edwards, the men’s team captain, was hot on Ardin’s heels, finishing in 2:53:06 – a new personal best by over a minute. Edwards had been on track for a 2:50 finish, but the effects of his run in the Greater Manchester Marathon three weeks earlier took their toll in the last five miles. Steve Parker was the third finisher, recording a respectable time of 4:47:44 in his first attempt at the distance.
Bury athletes were amongst the trophies in the Bolton 10k race. Sophie Whittaker was third female and first female junior in a time of 39:46. Next home was Giles Bennett, who took the prize as second V50 athlete with his strong run of 40:11. Mark Simkins was next finisher and ducked under the 50-minute barrier with a time of 49.28.
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