RUNNER Jess Martin has retired from athletics, claiming she can no longer do justice to the sport.
The 24-year-old Great Britain runner, formerly of Shanklin, stepped off the track with six laps to go of yesterday’s (Saturday’s) 10,000m at the IAAF World Championships.
Martin, who also competed for Team GB at the 2016 Rio Olympics, released a statement shortly after yesterday’s race.
It said: “I made a decision a little while ago to decide to retire at the moment.
“I say at the moment because a year ago I wouldn’t have said I would retire, but now it’s a decision I feel is right for me and I feel there is a lot more in my life that I want to do apart from running.
“I don’t feel that I’m doing the sport justice for myself and my family.
“My husband is a professional cyclist and I feel that now I’m going to be the best wife and the best supporter I can be to him and I’m very excited for so many things we have in our future together.
“I’m feeling a little bit tired and a little bit sorry for myself but I’ll be fine.”
Martin was the 2016 British champion and ran a new PB, 31.35.92, in Rio last year.
Her husband, Dan Martin, finished sixth in this year’s Tour de France.