CATHERINA McKIERNAN'S return to northern France marked a return to winning ways as she easily won the St Denis 15 km road race in 48 minutes 41 seconds. This was just a second slower than the time she recorded when taking the race last year.
"It's funny to think that you run almost 10 miles and yet are a second slower than last year, McKiernan said on her return to Ireland last night.
"I like running races like that. They are a change from cross country and the atmosphere is different. I took it handy at the start and around halfway, as I felt good, I started to push it. If I had realised I was going to be a second slower than last year, I am sure I could have made up that second along the way."
Kenya's Jane Ngotho had kept company with McKiernan up to the halfway point but once the Cavan woman upped the pace, the remainder of the field were running for the minor placings.
Indeed, Ngotho finished over a minute and 20 seconds behind McKiernan with former world cross country champion Albertina Dias of Portugal even further back. McKiernan will now turn her attentions towards the forthcoming track season.
