On her first day at UA92, Ava Crean, an Accelerated Sports & Exercise Science student, wrote a letter to her future self as part of an induction activity. In it, she set herself a challenge. By the time she graduated, she wanted to have run a marathon.
Not long after, she secured a spot in the Manchester Marathon, and despite having no formal coach at the time, Ava ran her first marathon in an incredible time of 2 hours and 49 minutes. She placed 7th overall among women and was the fastest runner in the 18–23 age group, across both men and women.
Just seven days later, she ran the Great Limerick Run, a marathon back in her hometown in Ireland. This time, she crossed the finish line as the first female in 2 hours and 43 minutes, 14 minutes ahead of the second-placed woman and faster than her Manchester time.
Ava said, “My journey into running began during lockdown. I used to play basketball and football, but when sports were paused during COVID, I needed something to stay active. I was too shy to run outdoors, so I started on a treadmill at home. I could barely manage 1km at first but managed to build up my confidence and distance.”
As a footballer and runner, Ava can benefit from UA92’s Talented Athlete Programme, which offers a wide range of services to help student-athletes succeed. This includes everything from personal training, strength and conditioning support and gym access to branded kit, and small bursaries to help with travel, equipment, and training costs.
Ava began training with Sale Harriers. Since then, her progress has accelerated and so has the interest. She’s now being considered for the 2028 Olympic trials and has already drawn attention from international coaches, including in Chicago.
Ava’s next big challenge is the Dublin Marathon in October, where she’ll compete in the elite category, with a goal to simply enjoy the race and maybe score a personal best. After that, the Manchester, London, and Boston marathons are all on her radar for 2026.
Looking ahead, Ava hopes to go on to a master’s degree after completing her undergraduate course and will likely represent UA92 in British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) competitions over the next year.
Ava’s story is a brilliant example of how far determination, talent and the right support can take you. Find out more about the support available to you as an athlete at UA92, here.
