APPROXIMATELY 240 runners participated in the first leg of the Easter Athletics Festival at Port Erin and Port St Mary on Good Friday evening, but it was Peel's Keith Gerrard who made history by becoming the first Manx athlete to win a leg of the three-day event.
>> Click here to view photo slideshow>> All pictures are available to view and buy at photostoday.co.ukThe GB senior international cross-country representative broke free of a group of four runners in the latter stages of the event to win the 10km road race in a time of 30 min 48 sec, crossing the finish line outside of the former Marine Biological Station on Port Erin promenade seven seconds in front of Matt Bond (Manchester Alehouse), with the latter man's team-mate Dave Norman third.
Next best of the locals were Kevin Loundes in sixth and Manx Harriers team-mate Darren Gray in 18th.
The women's event was doominated by Leeds/Doss runners, with Emma Waterhouse first across the line in 36.51, from Lisa Da Silva, Clare Duck, Sarah Graham and Gemma Smith.
Gail Griffiths of Manx Harriers was the best local, finishing eighth in a superb personal best time of 39.14.
The Festival continued with hill races at Peel on Saturday afternoon and 5km promenade races on Douglas seafront on Sunday morning.
For a fuller report and more pictures see this Friday's Manx Independent.
