Dixon set for Antrim coast Half marathon

Organisers have seen a record number of entries making the event the biggest half marathon every seen in Larne.

Joining the hoards of local and club runners who will savour and enjoy what promises to be an electric atmosphere, some of the top athletes from the UK, Ireland and further afield will battle it out in the Elite race.

Battling it out alongside international stars and fellow Olympians will be Alyson Dixon.

Dixon made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016, competing in the women’s marathon where the Sunderland-born athlete finished as the best-placed Briton in 28th place, with a time of 2:34:11.

British long distabce runner Tracy Barlow has also confirmed her entry. She competed in the women’s marathon at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics.

Her marathon best of 2:30:42 set in 2017, ranks her in the UK all-time top 25.

This half marathon will see one of the finest international fields ever assembled on these shores with at least seven Olympians, including Jo Pavey, Gemma Steele and Kevin Seyward confirmed as well as international teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

For these top level athletes the Antrim Coast Half Marathon forms a key part of their schedules in a significant year. when it’s their last race before the London Marathon (April 26) and the Tokyo Olympics which gets underway on July 24.

The redesigned Antrim Coast Half Marathon promises to be one of the fastest in the UK and Ireland.

Starting and finishing at Larne’s Chaine Memorial Tower, the race will take in the town centre before travelling up the coast road and turning for home at Ballygally.

“It will be one of the fastest finishes anywhere in the world because we have an eight mile flat followed by a 100m downhill, the only hill on the course, with about half a mile to go,” explained James McIlroy, Elite entry manager.

The Antrim Coast Half Marathon is on March 21 starting at 11am.