

Ava Hutchinson (Dundrum South Dublin AC) put in a stellar performance today to achieve the qualification standard for the London Olympic Games at the Houston Marathon in America, running ?2:35:33 (inside the Olympic A standard of 2:37). Hutchinson was well on track throughout the race and ran consistent splits throughout unlike at the Dublin Marathon in October last when she was on track for the qualification time but faded in the final stages to finish in 2:42:48.
The National Half Marathon champion, joins her club-mate Linda Byrne who also achieved the standard running 2.36.21 at the Dublin Marathon.
Meanwhile at the Internacional de Itálica, IAAF Cross Country Permit Meeting in Sevilla, Spain, European Cross Country Champion Fionnuala Britton finished eighth in 26.54. The race was dominated by African athletes with Linet Masi of Kenya winning in 25.42. Naddia Ejjafini of Italy who competed in the European Cross Country Championships got the better of Britton on this occasion finishing seven seconds ahead of her in seventh place.