Cullen stays on track with 5,000m victory

STUDENT distance runner Mary Cullen continued her brilliant start to the outdoor track season at the weekend with a 5,000m victory at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia.

The Sligo athlete, in her final, senior year at Providence College in Rhode Island, won the 5,000m college championship division in style at the prestigious meet, in a time of 16 minutes 20.63 seconds to qualify for the NCAA Regionals later this month.

Leading from the gun, Cullen ripped the field apart and crossed the line 11 seconds clear of her nearest rival, while Irish junior cross country international Michelle Gallagher finished in 20th for Iona Gaels in 17:18.60.