Costin impresses in Germany

Costin impresses in Germany

Jamie Costin has qualified for the World Championships in Paris

Irish walker Jamie Costin achieved a World Championship and Olympic qualifying time when he took sixth place in the 50K at the European Grand Prix meeting in Germany on Sunday.

Costin cut more than five minutes off his existing Irish record when he clocked 3:53.58 in Naumburg.

That was comfortably inside the standard for this year's World Championship in Paris (3:57.00) and was also an Olympic standard.

The 25-year-old Waterford man was 10 minutes behind winner Germany's Andreas Erm who clocked 3:43.53.

Meanwhile, Irish athlete Alistair Cragg set a 1500m personal best at a meeting in the United States.

Cragg clocked 3:39.24 on his home track at the University of Arkansas which cut his previous best by more than three seconds.

Meanwhile, James Nolan ran 3:44.40 when finishing fifth in a tactical 1500m at the Engen Series Finals in Durban, South Africa.

Laganside 10K

Earlier this week, Nolan clocked 1:47.92 when taking fourth place at an 800m in Potchefstroom.

Irish athlete Adrienne McIvor ran 2:04.85 when winning over 800m at the Telstra Meeting in Runaway Bay, Australia.

In the same race, Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games representative Kelly McNeice clocked 2:06.09.

Kenyan runners dominated Sunday's Laganside 10K in Belfast.

Lezan Kimutai took victory in a race race of 29 minutes and nine seconds - 11 seconds ahead of his compatriot Isaac Kumuge.

Willowfield's Paul Rowan ran a fine race to take third in the men's event.

Catherine Mutwa claimed her second successive victory in the women's event ahead of locals Suzanne McCormick and Julie Butler.