FOLLOWING what was a great week for St. Helens Sutton A.C. last week, the top class performances continued, first off was a fantastic run at the Charles Darwin Day Marathon, by Sutton’s distance queen, Collette Flaherty, who not only ran a new PB of 4:06.16 but was also first lady home.

Thursday night then saw St Helens Sutton Chairman, Matt Crehan take part in the Armagh International 5K Road Races in Northern Ireland, against an elite field of 250 athletes, around the City Mall, GB Olympians and Team from the USA and Belgium were competing, and Crehan proudly wearing his St Helens vest, went out with the leaders, in search of a PB and a top ranking. Finishing in 25th with a new PB of 14:25 giving him a top 20 UK ranking, Crehan beat a number of elite athletes, and was part of a World Record setting field for the number of athletes under 15 minutes in a 5k, with a total of 94 runners getting below the mark.

Crehan said “I’m really pleased by tonight’s run, I’ve been back running only 18 months and I know have less than a minute to take off my time to achieve the Olympic Qualifying time I’ll need in two years time”

Saturday, then saw the classic running of the 48th Parbold Hill Race, and after an 11pm arrival back in England, Crehan was back in action alongside Sutton team mates Tom Griffiths and Marc Crehan.

Matt took the lead from the start and took the win, regaining his title in a time of 41:59. Griffiths, conquering his injury problems that had plagued his winter finished 4th in 43:42. And Crehan’s younger brother Marc showed great improvements finishing in the top 50 of the field of 442 with 52:52.