Pauline Moran finishes wonderful World Masters week with half-marathon silver PB

W65 Half Marathon podium l-r silver Pauline Moran, gold Christine Kennedy, bronze Hernaiz Del Campo

Today (Saturday April 1) was the final day of the 9th World Masters Indoor and Non Stadia Championships at Torún.

After two days of well deserved (and badly needed!) rest, Pauline Moran ran her final race of the Championships on Saturday morning.

It has been a glorious golden week so far – in three events she won three individual gold medals and one team gold.

Today’s half-marathon meant she has completed the equivalent of a marathon distance over six days in four races.

Noreen Bonner Finn Valley AC and Nuala Reilly Drogheda & District made up the Irish W65 team in the half-marathon.

There were a number of other Irish runners in a field of over 400.

Pauline renewed rivalry with Corofin Co Galway native Christine Kennedy running for her adopted USA, who finished second behind her on Monday in the 8k cross-country.

In context, Christine ran 1:32.43 in Wokingham half-marathon in UK last in February, which is reported to be awaiting ratification as a new W65 World Record.

Prior to today Pauline ran her best W65 time 1:34.03 winning gold in the National Masters at Ratoath last September.

Half-marathon action – Pauline leading some of the younger competitors home!

She ran a brilliant race today finishing in 1:33.51 and silver W65!

That’s an amazing new PB for Pauline after three tough races – you can’t ask for more. And she broke her own National half-marathon record into the bargain.

However, Christine Kennedy finished first in 1:31.38 which will be a new world record for the category if ratified.

Pauline finished just 8 seconds ahead of Hernaiz Del Campo Spain – who won silver behind her in Wednesday’s 10k.

Noreen Bonner 1:47.44 and Nuala Reilly 1:50.03 were outside the individual medals today but with Pauline’s 1:33.51 their combined total won team silver behind USA.

Six medals, a unique achievement in one championship –  Congratulations Pauline!

Total World Masters haul =

three gold – 3000m, 8k cross-country, 10k; one team gold cross-country, one silver half-marathon, and one team silver half-marathon. A phenomenal performance by any standard.

It may be apt to recall a Mayo Athletics Road League prize-giving at Balla many years ago when guest speaker the great Dick HHooper who when asked what was the recipe for success replied “talent and hard work”. That was epitomised this week by Pauline Moran.

We said earlier that she ran her final race. Well no, she stepped out of the W65 team medal ceremony to make up the Irish mixed relay 4x200m 65 category team in the evening. She ran the anchor leg finishing heat 1 in 2:18 – but team did not win medals.

It’s party time in Torún tonight. Pauline has a lot to celebrate.

Ireland finished 7th of over 50 countries in the medals table: 28 gold, 23 silver 75 bronze.

2023 Torún World Masters Half marathon results:

https://wmaci2023.domtel-sport.pl/?seria=0&runda=3&konkurencja=KHMAR_35&dzien=&impreza=6

W65 team results:

https://wmaci2023.domtel-sport.pl/?seria=0&runda=3&konkurencja=KHMAR_T_65&dzien=2023-04-01&impreza=6