Wright wins 24 hour race in Belfast
Newport's Paula Wright was the winner of the women's race Energia 24 hour race held in Belfast on Saturday 22nd June last.
A native of Finland, the 37-year-old, who only took up running in 2013, ran (136 miles/218kms) in the 24 hour period, chasing down Norway’s Therese Falk who was the long time leader but had to settle for second place running 135 miles/216kms with Newtownabbey’s Louise Smart in third (132 miles/213kms).
Wright, who qualified through her Newport AC club, also won the Irish title in the process from the defending champion Smart with Rosslare’s Lorraine McMahon in third.
It was the biggest field assembled outside of the World Championships two years ago in Belfast and of the 225 who went to the line 76 went passed 100 miles- and 12 passed 200kms showing the continued growing strength of ultra running in Ireland and beyond.