by THERE was a historic moment at the latest edition of Greenock parkrun when Grace Barry took top honors in Saturday’s competition – the first runner to cross the finish line first since the event began.
With a new personal best of 18:17, 57 seconds slower than her previous best, Grace, from Inverclyde Athletics Club, was taking part in only her ninth 5km parkrun – and as a junior runner at that.
The final run saw 108 people run, jog and walk the course, while 18 first-timers took part, including four runners, Alessandro Imponenti, Mark Higgins, Matt Barnett and Millie Wilkinson, who are beginning their parkrun adventure.
And of the 18 riders, eight of them recorded new personal bests as representatives of 11 different clubs.
The eight runners who recorded new records were Grace Barry, Callum Robertson, Cara McDougall, Alistair Simpson, Anna Maddison, Stephanie Fulton, Janice Lowles and Hilary Robertson.
Milestones were reached by Mason Gregory, who completed his 10th 5km parkrun – Mason also runs at Battery Park junior parkrun – and by Aidan Coyle, who completed his 50th parkrun.
Cheryl Thomas took part in her 200th parkrun, while Jill Aikman received a 25th volunteer credit.
Second behind Grace was another Inverclyde AC junior runner, Cara McDougall, who also ran a new personal best of 21:47 and shaved 84 seconds off her previous time.
Marina McCallum, a member of the Kirkintilloch Olympians, completed the women’s top three with a time of 23:22.
In the men’s section, Callum Robertson completed the course in a new personal best of 18:32, while Brian McAlees was the second man to finish, eight seconds behind.
Marc McColl of Shettleston Harriers completed the top three for the men in 18:58.
A club spokesperson added: “The event was made possible by 26 volunteers: Daniel McLaughlin, Steven Watson, Graham McGrattan, Kenneth Scott, David Carruthers, Lorna MacMillan, Iain MacLeod, Eddie Devine, Eileen Stevenson, David Black, Stuart Crawford, Stephen Harrison. , Sarah McSharry, Helen Crawford, William Taylor, Alison Smart, Jill Aikman, Louise Hanna, Joseph McFadden, Tracey Howe, Marjorie Morrison, Doris Heron, Alan Robertson, Lesley Dick, Jill Turner and Scott Bailey.
