Caitriona Jennings has claimed gold at the first edition of the IAU 50Km European Championships in Spain this morning.
The Letterkenny AC athlete crossed the finish in a time 3.19.42 having broken away from the pack after the halfway point of the race.
Jennings was with the leading pack from the gun, running with fellow teammate Sorcha Loughnane (Donore Harriers) until just after the halfway point before gradually upping her pace over the final 15km in Sotillo de Adrada, Avila.
Loughnane would ultimately finish 6th in a brilliant display from the national 50km champion, but the race was dominated by Jennings who managed to open up an almost one-minute gap on the field heading into the final 5k.
The national 50km record-holder didn’t relent over the closing stages and powered all the way to the finish with an average pace of 4-minutes per kilometre to take the title ahead of Lavender of Great Britain and Stelmach of Poland.
