WATCH: Athlete competing in her 90th marathon wins Loch Ness Marathon in Inverness
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Melissah Gibson proved too good for the chasing pack as she cruised to victory to be crowned Loch Ness Marathon women's champion 2023.
The Ealing Eagles athlete stamped her authority on the women's race when she claimed victory in two hours, 43 minutes and 46 seconds.
She was well ahead of Doireann Hughes of Edinburgh Athletics Club in second place in 2:56:03 and Rosa Donaldson of Glasgow University who finished in third place in 2:59:15.
Gibson says she was competing in her 11th marathon this year and says she was delighted with her performance to take the title.
"My personal best is 2:43:42 so I just missed it, however, it is a season's best so I am happy," she said.
"I really wanted under 44 minutes so it is good enough.
"It is my 90th marathon in 12 years, but i am having a good run this year it is number 10 or 11.
"It is my favourite thing to do. I did Oslo and Tallinn the week before, which were good prep for here.
"I have Chester Marathon next week so hopefully I can do better than today."
Gibson says it had been an ambition to do the Loch Ness Marathon for a long time and was delighted to mark taking part by winning the race.
"I have been meaning to do it for years, but it clashes with Chester so it was good to do it."
Speaking about the course, she said: "The downhill was tricky, I thought I would be ok but in these shoes I felt wobbly but when it was mildly undulating, it was OK.
"I had no idea I was leading and Rosa beat me in Edinburgh so I knew I had to do my best."
Hughes was delighted to claim second place with a lifetime best, in what was only her third marathon.
She said: “I ran at Manchester in April and did 2:59:15 then Edinburgh in May where I got 3:00:22.
"So, I’m very happy with today’s performance. It’s such a good event and the course is beautiful – it takes the pain away.”
