By David Rogers. ARMAGH, N. Ireland — It was Blowing Rock “bookends” for the top five finishers in the prestigious Armagh International 5K. Three runners broke the course record, led by Blowing Rock’s Andrew Colley, a ZAP Endurance professional club member representing the USA in 13:33. ZAP Endurance teammate Ryan Ford wasn’t far behind as the No. 5 finisher, in 13:48.
Holland Sports Athletic Club team member Jack Kavanaugh picked off a dozen runners in the final mile to finish second, in 13:35, while Sebastian Larstad of IFK Lindingo (Sweden) crossed the line No. 3, in 13:36.
Colley’s performance comes just three months after he topped the field of the iconic Manchester Road Race in Connecticut, followed by a No. 8 finish in the Houston Half Marathon, setting a ZAP Endurance club record in the process.
Larstad, only 16 years of age, took to the lead right from the get-go in Armagh, leading a pack of 10 runners in gaining separation from the field by the halfway point. Event organizers after the race believed that Larstad’s 13:36 was close to a world record for a 16-and-under athlete, comparing him to Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, now a few years older..
Colley flirted with taking the lead with 1,000 meters to go, drawing side-by-side with Larstad, then tucked back in behind the young runner from Sweden.
At 600 meters to go, however, Colley put the proverbial pedal to the floor and rocked to the front, slowly extending the lead as Kavanaugh came from well behind to overtake the other leaders.
Nearly 80 percent of the approximately 300 athletes competing in the Armagh Men’s International 5k meter Road Race are from off the island of Ireland, according to event organizers. This year, 22 entrants had already run a sub-14 minute 5k time so a fast, competitive race was expected. It did not disappoint, as nearly two dozen runners finished under 14 minutes this year, a new event record, said the organizers.
