ATHLETICS: Astin smashes IOM Half Marathon record

Gemma Astin knocks more than 2 and a half mins off previous record

The Isle of Man Half Marathon record has been obliterated by local athlete Gemma Astin.

She beat the long-standing record by more than two and a half minutes in Manchester at the weekend.

Completing the race in 1 hour 11 minutes and 54 seconds, the time got Gemma the bronze medal in the England Half Marathon Championship behind Lauren McNeill and Lauren Howarth.

Her time takes 2 minutes 35 seconds off the Isle of Man record, which had belonged to Brenda Walker since 1991.

Meanwhile, younger sister Sarah Astin had record-breaking success of her own in Portsmouth's Great South Run.

She finished the 10-mile race in a time of 56 minutes and 4 seconds taking 62 seconds off her own Isle of Man 10-mile record, which she set the previous year.