Caitriona Jennings (Letterkenny AC) has produced a superb performance at the IAU 100km World Championships today in Berlin.
Jennings finished in third place to win a bronze medal proving that she is one of the world’s very best ultrarunners.
The Donegal woman completed the gruelling race in 7.07.16 which when ratified is expected to be both a new national record for 50 Miles and 100km.
Jennings was the first Masters athlete to finish, another significant feat.
Her average 4.17-kilometre pace in this morning’s race equates to running a 42.50 10km and just over three hours for the marathon.
Congratulations to
Caitriona Jennings
3rd Place in the IAU 100Km World Championships.
1st Place World Masters 100KmNew National Record for
50 Mile & 100Km (TBC)More details later
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!#ultrarunning #irishultrarunning pic.twitter.com/Mm3QyTmBOz— John O'Regan (@johnoregan777) August 27, 2022
Jennings, who is 42, is in excellent form continuing to run excellent times as she steps up to running ultras.
She is also still up there with the best in Ireland over shorter distances.
Caitriona Jennings in great form
At the start of May she won the marathon at the Great Limerick Run in 2.41.07 ranking her as fifth fastest Irish woman over the distance this season. Only Fionnuala McCormack, Ann-Marie McGlynn, Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill, and Aoife Cooke have ran faster in 2022.
In June 2021 she won the Anglo Celtic Plate at Mondello Park clocking 7.43.01 in the 100km race. Her time today knocks an extraordinary thirty-five minutes off that impressive mark.
Jennings previously competed over the marathon at the 2012 London Olympic Games. That day she ran the entire race with a stress fracture in her left foot and battled to the line, finishing 45 minutes off her best but demonstrated the enormous mental strength she has, which clearly benefits her in the ultra-races.
After London with her injury, she switched her focus to rowing and attempted to make the Irish team for the Olympics in 2016 in that sport, moving to Cork to train at the National Rowing Centre.
Caitriona’s dreams of making Rio fell short, but her sister Sinead made the Olympic final in the lightweight double sculls which inspired her to return to running.
The decision has came to fruition and a third-place finish at a World Championships will be up there with the greatest things she has achieved in the sport, if in her mind it doesn’t surpass becoming an Olympian.
The race was won by Floriane Hot of France in 7.04.03 with compatriot Camille Chaigneau finishing second in 7.06.32.
Japan dominated the men’s race with Haruki Okayama winning gold in 6.12.10. Jumpei Yamaguchi won the silver medal, with Piet Wiersma of the Netherlands finishing third in 6:18:47.
