There was enough action this weekend to fill an Irish round-up so Lindie Naughton was straight on it and our weekly article is back. 

Aoife Cooke of Eagle AC won  the women’s race at the Cheshire Elite Marathon, held  in Pulford, Cheshire on Sunday (April 25). More importantly, 2:28:36 was inside the Olympic marathon qualification mark of 2:29:30 by almost a full minute.

It was a four minute improvement on the time of 2:32:34 Cooke ran when winning the national title at the 2019 Dublin Marathon. Cooke passed the halfway mark in 1:13.30 only slowing down marginally towards the end of the race.

Behind her, Ann-Marie McGlynn  of Letterkenny AC finished third woman and first W40 in 2:29:34, an agonising four  seconds outside the Olympic qualification time. Fionnuala Ross of Armagh AC was eighth woman in 2:39.58 and Gladys Ganiel of North Belfast

Harriers AC 10th woman and second W40 in 2:43.58.

Best of the Irishmen

With Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock AC a non-starter, Gary O’Hanlon of Clonliffe Harriers proved best of the Irish men. He finished ninth in 2 hrs 21 mins 38 secs and was first M45 and indeed first master overall.

Sean Hehir of Metro St Brigid’s AC was 15th in 2:23.36,  while Declan Reed 22nd  and third M45 in 2:25.16, with his City of Derry Spartans clubmate Steven McAlary 29th in 2:26.46. A number of athletes from the Derry club were in action.  Finishing first M60 was Tommy Hughes of Strive AC in 2:31.18.

A total of 151men and 29 women completed the course, which consisted of seven and a half laps of a prepared loop.

ChampionChip Half Marathon

Scot Rankin and Sarah Jane Cooke were the winners of the ChampionChip Half Marathon at Down Royal racecourse on Saturday (April 24).

Rankin led the race from the start with his finishing time of 70 mins 9 secs putting him over a minute clear of second placed Andrew O’Brien  who finished in 72:17. Third was James Budde in 72.07.

Cooke finished 12th overall in 79:08; Karen Alexander was second in 85:44 and Aisling Murray third in 85:51

Multi event magic from O’Connor

Kate O’Connor of St Gerard’s Dundalk broke her own Irish heptathlon  and finished second in the Multistars World Athletics Combined Events Challenge in Lana, Italy held over the weekend (Saturday April 24-on Sunday April 25).

In her first pentathlon since the summer of 2019, O’Connor’s’ score of 6,297 points saw her finished seven points behind the winner Maria Vicente of Spain. It added 204 points to her own Irish record of 6,093 points and  included personal best results in  the hurdles, shot and 800m. Britain’s Holly Mills finished third with a personal best score of 6,180.

Her results were 100mH 13.94 PB, high jump 1.80m shot put:14.23m PB, 200m 24.94,  long jump 5.84m,  javelin: 51.61m and 800m 2:11.76 PB.

O’Connor is now just 123 points outside the Tokyo Olympics standard

Irish on Track in USA and UK

In the USA, Aaron Mangan of Tullamore Harriers ran a time of 1:52 06 for 800m in Pittsburgh on Saturday (April 24).

In Eugene Oregon, Cathal Doyle of Clonliffe Harriers opened his outdoor season with a win over 1500m in 3 mins 45.45 secs, also on Saturday. At the same meet, Barry Keane  of Waterford AC finished seventh  in the 5000m in 13 mins 35 secs.

In Des Moines, again on Saturday, Eilish Flanagan of Omagh Harriers was less than a second off her best when running 9:52.70 for the 3000m steeplechase with Kerry O’Flaherty of Newcastle and District AC running clocking a time of 10:04.66 behind her.

At the Philadelphia Metropolitan Invitation meet on Saturday (April 24), Charlie O’Donovan  of Leevale AC helped Villanova to victory in both the 4 x 800m  and the distance medley relays.

Running a time of 4 mins 15.27 secs for for third in a 1500m race in Birmingham on Wednesday (April 21) was Louise Shanahan. In Albequerque a day later, Roisin Flanagan of Omagh Harriers won the women’s 1500m in 3:23.27  with Stephanie Cotter of West Muskerry AC seventh in 4:33.57.

The post Cooke runs a stormer in Cheshire appeared first on Fast Running.

Future Ulster rugby player Aaron Sexton put a memorable end to his domestic athletics career when he won both the senior 100m and 200m titles in record times at the Irish Life Health All Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships in Tullamore on Saturday (June 1)

First up was the 100m, where Bangor Grammar’s Sexton powered his way to victory in a time of 10.46 secs. A fighting second was Conor Morey of PBC Cork who equalled Marcus Lawler’s 2013 record when finishing in 10.59.

Just over an hour later, Sexton settled into his blocks for the 200m and completely dominated the race, with his time of 20.69 secs breaking Lawler’s 20.87 record, also from 2013 and putting him top of the current European U20 listings. If he can hold that form, he may well pick up a medal at the European U20 Championships taking place in Boras, Sweden next month where he will end his athletics career.

Rhasidat Adeleke (Presentation Terenure) was another double winner in the sprints, taking the inter girls 100m in 11.69 secs and the 200m in 24.29. Her Irish teammate Patience Jumbo Gula (St Vincent’s Dundalk) won the senior girls’ 100m in 11.81.

In the senior girls 400m, Davicia Patterson (Hunterhouse) improved her 2018 record with a time of 53.23. Dominating the girls’ 4x100m relays was Dublin school Mount Anville with victories at minor, inter and senior level.

Going the distance

Early in the day, European U18 champion Sarah Healy was a class apart in the senior girls 3000m, which she won in 9:24.5, knocking over eight seconds off the previous record. Equally dominant in the senior boys’ 5000m later on was defending champion Efrem Gidey (Le Cheile, Tyrrellstown) who, despite increasingly blustery conditions, managed a time of 14:45.25.

In winning the senior 1500m, Darragh McElhinney (CP Bantrai) made it a clean sweep of schools titles at all levels from minor to senior just a week after becoming the first under 18 athlete to go under 14 minutes for 5000m. McElhinney ran a smart race, pulling away from Shay McEvoy (St Kieran’s Kilkenny) at the bell and crossing the line in 3:52.40.

Aimee Hayde (St Mary’s Newport) made it a middle distance double, though she had to fight hard for her victory in the intermediate girls’ 800m and was rewarded with a time of 2:09.80, which broke Siofra Cleirigh Buttner’s time of 2:10.27 from 2012. Also inside that time was Victorias Lighbody (Wallace HS) who finished in 2:10.20. Hayde went on to win the 1500m in 4:37.31.

Race of the day was a dramatic senior boys 800m, where Leinster champion Louis O’Loughlin (Moyle Park) after finding himself boxed in on the back straight chased down Cian McPhillips (Moyne CS). The two were elbow to elbow in the chase for the line, when McPhillips’ legs buckled allowing O’Loughlin to take a fighting victory in 1:52.47

Field events

Irish heptathlon record holder Kate O’Connor (St Vincent’s Dundalk) started her day early by finishing joint winner of the senior high jump with a modest 1.65 effort. She later added over two metres to the senior javelin record with a throw of 48.17m.

In the senior boys pole vault, Matthew O’Callan O Cianain (GC Cheatharlach) set a new championships best of 4.51, adding a single centimetre to the previous best. Orla Coffey (St Angela’s Cork) was also in record breaking form with a winning 3.61 in the inter girls competition, while at junior level Conor Callinan (Col an Chriost Naomh) improved the boys’ record to 3.85m and Jodie McGrath (St Mary’s Nenagh) added eight centimetres to the girls’ record with a 3m vault.

In the senior high jump, Nelvin Appiah (Moyne CS Longford) went soaring over 2.10 to put him top of the current Irish rankings. At junior level, Geoffrey Joy O’Regan (John the Baptist) recorded a personal best of 1.96 to break a record going back to 1976.

Senior Track and Field

Internationally, Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC) finished third in the 400m hurdles on a windy and cold night at the Stockholm Diamond League on Thursday evening (May 30).

Norway’s world champion Karsten Warholm ran away with the race in 47.85 secs; the American TJ Holmes was second in 49.25 and Barr third in 50.28.

Barr had recorded a time of 49.41 when opening his season at the Shanghai Diamond League on May 18. His next outing is at Thursday’s Rome Diamond League.

Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham WSAF returned to the track last Wednesday (May 29) where he won the 10,000m at the third Dublin Graded Track and Field meet held at Irishtown Stadium– the race gave athletes a rare opportunity to race over the distance. Hehir finished in 31:40.43 with Lee van Haeften of Donore Harriers second in 31:42.60 and Barry Shiel from Longford AC third in 32:44.71.

In other races, Joe Warne of Doheny AC and Niamh Allen of Crusaders AC were festest over 800m with times of 1:56.72 and 2:16.17 respectively, while over 400m, Eamonn Wallace of Ratoath AC in 50.85 and Grainne Moynihan of West Muskerry AC in 57.63 were qucikest over 400.

In the field, Claire Fitzgerald of Tralee Harriers continued her return to competition in the women’s discus with a best throw of 47.92.

Next Dublin Graded Meet, incorporating the Dublin Championships, takes place in Santry on Wednesday June 12, with 100m, 400m and 1500m races. Full results and calendar at www.dublinathletics.com

One the roads

Gary O’Hanlon from Clonliffe Harriers was king of Cork again when winning the Cork Marathon on Sunday (June 2) for a second year in 2:21.43.

O’Hanlon broker away early with Tim O’Donoghue (East Cork AC) and former winner Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers), but broke away coming up to the ten mile mark. O’Donoghue then left Ciobanu behind to come home second in 2:25.53, with Ciobanu third in 2:28.26.

First woman was Angela McCann (Clonmel AC) in 3:02.47, with Nollaig O’Neill (Leevale AC) second in 3:07.52 and Magan Armitage third in 3:08.31.. First relay team was Leevale AC.

Winners of the half marathon were Gavin Sweeney (Togher AC) in 69:04, who was followed home by Cillian O’Leary in 69:29 and Freddy Sittuk in 71:03. First Woman was Fiona Santry (East Cork AC) in 83:17, with Sorcha Kearney (St Finbarr’sAC) 2nd in 85:26 and Andrea Bickerdike (Leevale AC) third in 86:26.

Completing his 450 marathon was 70-year-old wheelchair master Jerry Forde (Blarney Inniscarra AC); the wheelchair winner was Paralympian John McCarthy, a well known figure on the Dublin roads.

Aoibhe Richardson of Kilkenny City Harriers, who is currently based in the USA where she runs with Portland AC, was the winner of the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon 10km in Dublin on Sunday (June 2).

Richardson passed early leader Catherina Mullen (MSB AC) about halfway through the race and went on to win in 34 mins 35 secs. Mullen was second in 35:01 and Olympic marathon runner Breege Connolly (City of Derry) third and first W40 in 35:13.

Others in contention included twice previous winner Siobhan O’Doherty (Borrisokane AC), Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise AC), Una Britton (Kilcoole AC) and Nora Newcombe (Mayo AC); full results are not yet available.

Leading home the 28,000 or so finishers for a second year was 15-year-old Shauna Bouquet from Craughwell AC who was first wheelchair athletes. Sinead Kane, better known as an ultra runner, was first visually impaired athlete to finish.

Walled City Marathon

Eric Koech (Project Africa) was put under no pressure at the Derry Walled City Marathon on Sunday (June 2) which he won in 2 hrs 34 mins 19 secs. A distant second in 2:40.20 was Chris McGuinness (Foyle Valley AC), with Shane O’Donnell (Rosses AC) third in 2:42.54.

First woman was Natalie Hall (Armagh AC) in 3:03.35. Grace Kennedy (Donore Harriers) was second in 3:04.32 and Aisling Murray (Scrabo Striders) third in 3:05.20. Over 800 completed the race.

Peter Somba of Dunboyne AC was the winner of the Michelle McKiernan Star of the Sea 5km held in Stamullan, Co Meath on Tuesday (May 28) evening.

Somba finished fives seconds clear of second place Aaron Hanlon of Clonliffe Harriers in 15 mins 15 secs. Third was Eoin Callaghan of the host club in 15:54. First woman was Niamh Devlin of Dundrum South Dublin in 18:12. Mary Leech of Drogheda and District was second woman and first W40 in 18.27 and Laura Mathews of North East Runners third in 18.37. Full result

Mick Clohisey made a welcome return to BHAA running last week winning the Government Services BHAA 5-Mile, in Dunboyneon Tuesday (May 28) in 23 mins 35 secs. Second was Sean Doran in 25.40, with Brian Conroy a close third in 25:46.

In fifth place, Ian McGarth was not only first master home, but was also leading Bank of Ireland to team victory in the A grade, with Cathal McHale and Joe Walsh making up the team. The bank’s B team was second ahead of ESB. Winning grade B was Eir , with Ervia second. Dublin Bus was first in grade C and Gardai in D, with the Garda team led by current Dublin Marathon committee chairman Paul Moran.

First woman in 31:16 was Jill Horan, followed by Alma Hanevy, who was also first master, and local athlete Claire Ni Fhaircheallaigh. Best of the women’s teams was Revenue. Over 400 completed the race. www.bhaa.ie

Winners of the Balbriggan Summerfest 5km on Thursday (May 30) were Stephen Kelly 9Drogheda and District AC) in 16 mins 17 secs and Aoife Parrella (Star of the Sea AC) in 19:11.

Up and down the hills

Seamus Lynch (Newcastle AC) was a clear winner of the annual Carrauntoohil mountain race in Co Kerry. Lynch completed the 12.5 km course with 1157 climb in 1:25:34. Second was Bernard Fortune (Sliabh Bhui Rovers AC) in 1:30:19, with Tom Blackburn (Moreabbey Milers AC) third in 1:33:41. First woman was Becky Quinn in 1:50:48.

Coming up this week is an interview with new Wicklow Round record holder Gavin Bryne so keep your eyes peeled for that one.

parkrun Ireland

Daire Bermingham and Catherina McKiernan are your quickest parkrunners in Ireland this weekend (June 1). For full top tens check them out here.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

Lindie Naughton is a journalist and writer based in Dublin who joined the athletics club at her college many many years ago and has never quite escaped.

You’ll normally find her jogging around some orienteering course somewhere – or down at the Irishtown track coaching kiddies! 

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patron. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post Sexton ends domestic career with impressive double – Irish weekend round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

Clonmel’s Sean Tobin was the over six minutes to spare when he led home over 600 finishers at the Sonia O’Sullivan Cobh 10 Mile in Co Cork on Sunday (April 7).

Tobin was on his own for much of the race winning in a course record time of 48:34. Finishing second in 55:00 was Colin Merritt of Glenville AC who was also first M45.

First woman and seventh overall was Leevale’s Michelle Finn in a course record 57:26.

Winners of the Lough Boora Half Marathon in Co Offaly, also on Sunday, were Colin Maher of Ballyfin AC in 70:33 and Neasa de Burca of Galway City Harriers in 86:13.

Tommy Hughes of Termoneeny AC knocked over seven minutes off the Irish M55 marathon record when he ran a time of 2:30:10 at the Rotterdam Marathon on Sunday morning. The old record was 2:37:42.

RELATED: Olympian Tommy Hughes aims to bounce back into the record books

Best of the Irish men at the Rotterdam Marathon was Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe Harriers who finished 23rd in 2:19:52. Not far behind was Ciobanu’s training partner David Mansfield fo Clonmel AC who finished 28th in 2:22:06.

Raheny’s Cillian O’Leary finished in 2:25.03 and former international race walker Colin Griffin in 2:26.48.

Of the Irish women, Breege Connolly of City of Derry Spartans ran 2:37:50 for 13th place – just 50 seconds off the qualifying time for the World Championships.

In her debut marathon, Letterkenny’s Ann Marie McGlynn ran a time of 2:39:22, one place behind Caitriona Jennings who finished 16th in 2:38:42.

Gary O’Hanlon of Clonliffe Harriers was a solid winner of the Omagh Half Marathon on Saturday (April 6) in a time of 67:41.

That put him exactly one minute ahead of Mark McKinstry from North Belfast Harriers, with Eoin Hughes of Acorns AC third in 79:47.

First woman was Laura Graham of Mourne Runners in 76:31. Martina McGee of Tir Chonaill AC was second in 81:13 and Karen Alexander third in 81:30.

A total of 2,297 completed the race along with a further 76 walkers, and 907 finishers in a 5km where Martin Cox of Carmen Runners in 15:49 and Catherina McKiernan of Annalee AC in 17:53 were the winners.

Rory O’Connell and Linda Byrne were the winners of the 10th Rás UCD 5km held on a cold, but bright spring day on the Belfield campus in Dublin on Saturday.

O’Connell made his move on the second of two laps passing early leader Daire Finn of Dublin City Harriers to finish in 15:00 on a course which was fractionally shy of 5km. Finn finished second in 15:12, with Karol Cronin of Sportsworld AC third and first M40 in 15:27.

Byrne of of Dundrum South Dublin AC was 17th overall in 17:03; on a good day for the family Byrne’s brother Brian was just ahead of her in 10th place, with their parents also running.

Bronagh Kearns of St Senan’s a former UCD women’s captain, was second in 17:12 and Niamh Devlin of DSD AC third in 17:59.

Neil Johnston was the winner of a well-supported Queen’s 5km in Belfast on Wednesday (April 3). Johnson finished in 14:51, with Declan Reed of City of Derry Spartans second in 14:58 and Nakita Burke of Letterkenny AC first woman in 16:50.

Track and field

Phil Healy, representing Waterford IT was only five-hundredths outside her Irish record when she won the women’s 200m in a championships record time of 23.04 at the second day of the Irish Universities Track and Field Championships in Athlone on Saturday.

@philhealy2 back to her less lactic happy events with a 23.04 and 11.51 openers in the @IreUniAthletics #no400 #fastwoman #recordsx2 pic.twitter.com/5LjUZEIxjK

— Shane McCormack (@mcwexford) April 6, 2019

Coming second was Sharlene Mawdsley of University of Limerick in 24.21 with Aoife Lynch of DCU third in 24.40.

“Yes – I was just shy of the national record of 22.99 – in my fourth race this weekend. I’m absolutely delighted,” Healy said after the race. She’s going warm weather training next week for a fortnight. “Then I come home and sit my exams and then I go off again and race.”

Earlier Healy had comfortably won the 100m in 11.51 an IUAA record.

In the men’s 200m, Marcus Lawler, representing Carlow IT, showed that he was right back in form when he smashed the championships record with a time of 20.83.

Lawler’s time was under the A standard for the World University Games. “Hopefully that will secure my spot on the team I think I’ve done enough today to do that,” he said. Lawler struggled with injury last summer although he did make the Irish team for the European team championships.

“Hopefully I’ll have another go at the European team championships this year. I’m going to need to be in a position to be picked and then obviously Doha is on later in the summer as well and please god I’ll run the qualifying standard for that too.”

Finishing second was Craig Newall of University of Ulster in 21.62 with DCU’s Paul McDermott in 21.80.

In the 200m, Travane Morrison of IT Tralee was the winner with a time of 10.75. Craig Newall of UU was second in 10.93.

DCU students dominated the men’s 5000m, with Cathal Doyle winning in 14:39.25 and Sean O’Leary second in 14:44.34. Damien Landers of NUIG was third in 14:51.22.

Andrew Coscoran of DCU won the men’s 1500m in 3:53.90, with his DCU tema mate Gary Cambell proving best in the 10,000m with a time of 30:13.39.

Winning the women’s 400m in 54.47 was Cliodhna Manning of Carlow IT. DCU’s Sophie Becker was second in 54.60. Winning the men’s 400m was Cathal Crosbie of UL in 48.76.

Taking the women’s discus title with a throw of 48:39 was Niamh Fogarty of Athlone IT. Eoin Sheridan of DCU proved best in the men’s discus with a 53.72m effort. In the men’s hammer, a throw of 60.60 gave Adam King of DCU the title.

Continuing her long winning streak in the triple jump was national champion Saragh Buggy of DCU with a leap of 12.40m. Taking the men’s combined events title with 2904 points was David Dagg of UCD.

A day earlier, John Kelly of Letterkenny IT won the men’s shot with 17.12, with Michaela Walsh of DCU winning the women’s shot with 13.93m. Walsh also won the hammer with a throw of 59.57m. Winning the women’s 1500m in 4:33.00 was Avril Deegan of DCU. Matthew Behan of DCU won the 110m hurdles in 14.38. Running as a guest, Kate Doherty won the women’s 100m hurdles in 14.10.

A DCU quartet led by Cillin Greene set a new championships record of 41.59 when winning the men’s 4 x 100m. Winning a dramatic women’s 4 x 100m after NUIG’s Nicole Walsh pulled up with an injury within sight of the line was University of Ulster. Walsh held on for second ahead of host college Athlone IT.

Drama for Aisling Forkan of @nuigalway in the women's 4x100m relay at #IUAAtf19 Irish Universities Track & Field Championships as @_UUathletics grab a last-gasp win. pic.twitter.com/hyh0cqelIS

— IUAA (@IreUniAthletics) April 6, 2019

At the final day of the All Ireland Juvenile Indoor Championships in Athlone, Wymin Sivakumar of Leevale was a worthy winner of the U18 boys tripled jump with a fourth-round effort of 13.31m. Pushing him all the way was Adam Turner of Belgooly AC who threw 13.25 in the sixth and final round.

In the 4 x 200m relays, Galway City Harriers won the girls’ U18 title in 1:44.56, with Dundrum South Dublin second and St L O’Toole third. Dundrum South Dublin went one better in the boys’s U18 4 x 200m, winning in 1:32.72, with Brothers Pearse AC a close second and Orangegrove ASC third.

In the U19 age groups, St L O’Toole AC won the girls’ 4 x 200m title in 1:45.93 with GCH second and DSD third. St LOT also won the U17 title.

Metro St Brigid’s AC , with Leinster schools cross country champion Scott Fagan leading them off, won a thrilling boys U17 4 x 200m in 1:35.76; GCH just held off St LOT for second.

Dooneen A set a championships best time of 1:42.86 when winning the boys’ U14 race.

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The post Sean Tobin and Laura Graham among Irish weekend winners appeared first on Fast Running.

The beautiful surrounds of Donadea Forest Park in Co. Kildare, Ireland was the venue for the 9th Annual Dondea 50KM race this weekend. Donadea Forest Park offers the perfect location for the 50KM Championship Event and has seen super fast times before.

Gary O’Hanlon won the Donodea 50km and Irish Championships in a new personal best of 2:50.48, whilst Laura O’Driscoll won the women’s championship in 3:49.01.

The ultra distance event might only be a little under eight kilometres longer than the standard 42.2km marathon, but it is often a runner of O’Hanlon’s standard steps up in distance and the quality of the time shines through. The Clonliffe Harrier only recently ran 2:18:15 to finish 31st overall and also won the M40 category at the Valencia Marathon back in December.

The national record holder said “I went out hard, too hard. 1.23.50 for 25k and 2:14 for 40k. Then I was questioning whether I could even finish the last 10k.”

“It was a very tough race mentally. With the marathon you get to 20 miles and there’s not far to go, but with a 50k you have almost another half marathon left,” reflected the Irish international. “After four laps the underfoot conditions got a bit tougher too” although O’Hanlon still held on to a fine pace across the finish line.

Irish international ultra runner John O’Regan tweeted the video below of the marathoner finishing the race and he clearly looks happy with the result.

New National 50K Record Set by Gary O’Hanlon #donadea50K#runchat@irishathletics @IrishRunnerMag pic.twitter.com/GEsrW5MlXp

— John O’Regan (@johnoregan777) February 9, 2019

Shaun McLaughlin (3:18.31) and Alastair Higgins (3:20.57) were second and third respectively with Higgins taking to Facebook to lament his early pace, possibly drawn on by the standard of runner ahead, stating “I should have stuck to 3:15 pace but went off at 3:10 pace- finished in 3hrs20. Lessons learned!”

The women’s race was a close run affair with Laura O’Driscoll, winner of the 2018 Wicklow Way 50 miler, just three minutes ahead of Jan Corcoran (3:52.12).

The Donadea Running club website states that the “event is the brainchild of one our most active members and chairperson Anthony Lee. Anthony who is an avid Ultra Runner himself, has brought ultra running in the last ten years to the forefront of Donadea Running Club encouraging other members of the club to get involved in 24 hour races, ultra team events and the Connemara Ultra Run.”

Men

1. Gary O’Hanlon – 2:50.48

2. Shaun McLaughlin- 3:18.31

3. Alastair Higgins- 3:20.57

Women

1. Laura O’Driscoll – 3:49.01

2. Jan Corcoran- 3:52.12

3. Lucy O’Malley- 4:11.44

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patron. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post Gary O’Hanlon breaks his own Irish 50k record by 4 minutes appeared first on Fast Running.

Gary O’Hanlon ran 2:18:15 to finish 31st overall and also won the M40 category at the Valencia Marathon on Sunday (December 2).

The Clonliffe Harriers’ athlete was back to racing over 26.2 miles little over a month after running a personal best 2:17:11 in Dublin.

It was the 44 year-old’s sixth marathon of the year after runs in London, Cork, Longford and finishing 22nd in September’s Berlin Marathon.

Eoin Everard of Kilkenny City Harriers and Finn Valley’s Teresa Doherty were the winners of a quality – and sell-out – Jingle Bells 5k held in Dublin Phoenix Park on Saturday (December 1).

Everard finished in 14:37, while for second place, Clonliffe junior Efrem Gidey out-sprinted Colin Moore of Ballyfin AC with the pair given times of 14:44 and 14:46. Fourth in 14:50 was William Maunsell of Clonmel AC. First home for the host club Donore Harriers was Ray Hynes in fifth place with a time of 14:52.

Fresh from her win at the British and Irish Masters International, Doherty was a clear winner of the women’s race with a time of 16:13.

Congratulations Teresa Doherty on a brilliant new pb 16.15 at the Jingle Bells 5k in Dublin. We love the tee-shirt Teresa!!! @CaniceNic Teresa with Fionnuala OConnell, Sligo AC and Breege Connolly City of Derry Spartans – regulars at the Cara Challenge each year. Photo Sligo AC. pic.twitter.com/XqSAaqdlwD

— Paddy Donoghue (@Paddyrun1) December 2, 2018

In what was perhaps her first official road run, Blackrock junior Sarah Healy warmed up for next weekend’s European Cross Country Championships by finishing second woman in 16:28.

Finishing third woman was Sinead O’Connor of Leevale AC with a time of 16:49; a strong woman’s team from the Cork club had travelled for the race.

Kilcoole’s Una Britton in 16:53 was fourth woman, while Olympic marathon runner Breege Connolly of City of Derry Spartans was fifth woman in 17:02.

Finishing lucky 13th and first M50 was Shane Healy of Metro St Brigid’s, who on Tuesday (November 27) had set a new Irish M50 indoor record of 2:01.37 for the 800m at the National Indoor Arena in Abbotstown.

With the festive season fast approaching, the race attracted a full house of almost 1,200 starters, many dressed as Santas, elves and snowmen.

St Malachy’s Ben Branagh and Letterkenny’s Nakita Burke won the Seeley Cup 10k titles in Belfast on Saturday (December 1).

Branagh won the men’s race in a personal best time of 30:29, while Burke won the women’s race in a PB of 34:57 (CT:34:54).

Photo: Keith McClure

Despite not hosting the NI & Ulster 10k Championships this year, the prestigious road race, once again welcomed the strongest depth of any 10k in Northern Ireland with 23 men finishing under 33 minutes and seven women under 37 minutes.

A full report from the Seeley Cup 10k can be found here.

Freddy Sittuk of Raheny Shamrock and national marathon champion Lizzie Lee of Leevale were the winners of the Waterford Half Marathon held in ideal weather conditions on Saturday (December 1).

Sittuk led home 2,338 finishers in a time of 68:01. Just four seconds behind for second was Tomas Fitzpatrick of Tallaght AC in 68:05, while third was Thomas Hayes of Kilkenny City Harriers AC in 68: 12.

Lee finished best of the women in 78:45, followed by Ruth Fitzgerald of host club, Waterford AC in 78:42 and Kilmore’s Fiona Keogh in 82:01.

Lisa Madden of Sportsworld AC and Rathfarnham WSAF’s Mitchell Byrne were the winners of a well-supported Dublin Intermediate Cross Country Championships held in Tymon Park, Tallaght on Sunday (December 2).

In the women’s 5km race, Madden took the lead after the opening lap and finished comfortably clear of Louise Gaffney from Rathfarnham WSAF and Ciara Brady of Sportsworld. With three finishers in the top 10, Sportsworld finished best of the teams ahead of Rathfarnham WSAF and Clonliffe Harriers.

Mitchell, who has returned to Ireland after three years on scholarship in the USA, was the class of the field in the men’s 8km, although his clubmate Robert Murphy did his best to narrow the gap and finished second. Third was Adam O’Brien of Clonliffe Harriers.

In a closely fought-team competition, Brothers Pearse AC were the winners on countback from Rathfarnham WSAF. Just eight years ago, Brothers Pearse had joined the world of club athletics by entering a team in this very race and finishing last.

Third team was Donore Harriers, with Sportsworld, who had 26 athletes running, finishing fourth.

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This week’s Irish round-up is supported by SOAR running, who are offering an exclusive 25% discount to club runners. Find out more about the offer here.

Leevale AC’s Lizzie Lee and Gary O’Hanlon of Clonliffe were the winners of the Stook 10 Mile Road Race held in the village of Dungarvan, near Gowran in Co Kilkenny on Sunday (November 18).

With the promised show-down with Freddy Sittuk failing to materialise, O’Hanlon proved the class of the men’s field coming home with eight minutes to spare in 51:16. Second was David Power of Rathfarnham WSAF while third was Alan O’Connor of United Striders.

A close fourth and first woman was Lee, who finished just outside the hour in 60:37. Lee, who won the Irish marathon crown last month in Dublin, described the race as the toughest 10 miler she has ever run – but a great run.

Isabel Oakes in 64:24 was second woman and Grace Reilly of Portlaoise AC third woman in 67:58.

Winners of the 5km were Paul Burke and Beth O’Connor.

Jessica Craig of North Down AC came out on top at the SEAA London Cross Country Championships on Saturday (November 17).

Craig was to the fore in the 300 strong pack from early on in the race before coming through for victory. She also helped her second claim club Herne Hill Harriers to team silver.

On the roads, John Black of North Belfast Harriers and Kelly Neely of City of Lisburn AC were the winners of the elite race at the Down 5km in Downpatrick on Saturday (November 17).

Black won the men’s race in 15:21, with Eoin Hughes of Acorns AC a close second and Steven McAuley from City of Derry Spartans third.

Neely finished first woman in 17:28, with North Down’s Rachel Gibson just six seconds behind for second and Sarah Graham of Mourne Runners third.

University Road Relays

Dublin City University won both the men and women’s titles at the annual Irish University Road Relays Championships hosted by NUI Maynooth on Saturday (November 17).

In the women’s race, Avril Deegan ran the first mile lap in 5:44 and then passed on to Una Britton whose time of 11:02 was the fastest of the day for two miles.

Making up the team were Emma O’Brien with 11:02 on the on the second two-mile leg and Nadia Power who brought the team home with a time of 5:23 for the final mile leg. Their total time was 33:14.

A strong run on the second leg for Cliona Murphy pulled Trinity College Dublin into second position ahead of University College Cork with Claire Rafter bringing them home. UCC just held off DCU’s B team for third.

Although 30 teams had entered the men’s race (mile, 2 miles, 3 miles, 2 miles, mile), the top three teams all came from DCU. DCU A were the winners in 43:28, DCU B second in 44:57 and DCU C third in 45.33.

Making up the winning team were Andrew Coscoran, Brian Fay, Gary Campbell, Paul Robinson and Conor Duncan.

Fastest lap times came from Darragh Fitzgibbon of UCD who ran 4:39 for the opening mile, Cathal Doyle of DCU 9:32 for two miles, Damien Landers of NUI Galway 14:45 for three miles, Paul Robinson of DCU 9:24 for the second two-mile and Jamie McCarthy of University of Limerick 4:35 for the final mile.

Masters

While the English team took the overall honours, the two Irish teams in action at the 31st British and Irish Masters Cross Country International at Swansea’s Singleton Park on Saturday (November 18) had three individual wins to celebrate.

First up were the women and over 65 men, and in her first outing at the event, Teresa Doherty from Finn Valley AC got the Republic of Ireland team off to the best possible start as overall winner of the race and first W40.

Backed up by Karen Costello, Caitriona Devine and Caroline Donnell, the team took the first of six second places in the eight women’s races; England won all eight. Also taking individual gold was Pauline Moran of Mayo AC in the W60 race, while taking silver were Carmel Crowley W50 and Niamh O’Sullivan W55.

Best for the Irish in the M65 race was Paul Elliott running for Northern Ireland who was sixth. Finishing second M70 for the Republic was Martin McEvilly, with the team also second.

Northern Ireland also did well in the M50 race with Steve Cairns second and the team finishing second ahead of the Republic. Winning the M55 race was Mick Byrne of Sli Cualann for the Republic with the North of Ireland again second of the teams and the Republic third.

Finished second M60 was Laurence Johnson from Northern Ireland. Fourth was Martin McDonald from Ballyroan Abbeyleix, taking time off from his endeavours in “Ireland’s Fittest Family”. The Republic’s team finished third and the North of Ireland fourth.

Northern Ireland’s moment came in the final 8km race for men from 35 to 45, with Mark McKinstry from North Belfast Harriers coming home a comfortable overall winner and first M35.

Photo: Rob Gale

Having finished runner-up in the Northern Ireland senior championships for the last four years, McKinstry who was making his Masters debut, raced to an early lead and was never caught.

Finishing a fighting fourth was the 2016 winner Michael Harty of East Cork. Ireland finished second team with Northern Ireland third.

There was no luck for the Irish in the M40 race where the teams finished fourth and fifth, but in the M45 race, Ireland, led by Seamus Somers in fourth finished second team and Northern Ireland, with Eamon White their first finisher in sixth place, third team.

England won every team event with the exception of the M75 race won by Wales, so took 16 team golds overall. The Irish finished runners-up in six of the eight women’s age categories and third in the remaining two.

In the nine men’s age groups, the Republic of Ireland men had three second places and three thirds, while Northern Ireland had two seconds and two thirds.

In the W70 age group, Angela Copson was winning her 11th successive title in all age groups and matching the all-time record of Ireland’s Carmel Parnell.

Other weekend results

Irish Life BHAA XC 6km, Santry
Men: 1) Darragh Rennicks 19:41, 2) Noel Carroll 19:53, 3) Michael McMahon, 20:03.
Women: 1) Laura Shaughnessy (Temple St Hospital) 21:15, 2) Linda Byrne (Gardai) 21:28, 3) Sinead Lambe (Marino Inst of Ed) 22:51

Clontarf Après Marathon Half Marathon, Dublin. Half Marathon (767 finishers)
Men: 1) Kieran Little (Crusaders) 72:13, 2) Ciaran McKenna (Star of the Sea AC) 72:24, 3) Jesus Calle Arrayo 74:00.
Women: 1) Louisa Mackenzie 82:32, 2) Shirley Coyle 85:27, 3) Sarah Baryga (Sli Cualann, W40) 86:24.

Clontarf Après Marathon Five mile (767 finishers)
Men: 1) Roger Carbarra 29:17, 2) Brian Sexton (Raheny Shamrock) 29:18, 3) Paul Caulfield (DSD) 29:29.
Women: 1) Zoe Quinn (Raheny Shamrock) 30:33, 2) Maria O’Sullivan 32:30, 3) Sinead Doherty 33:18

Annagassan Viking 10km, Co Louth. (519 finishers plus 25 walkers)
Overall: 1) Catherina McKiernan 35:48, 2) Shane Larkin (Drogheda and Dist) 36:16, 3) Michelle Cox (Newbridge AC) 36:43, Niall Fergus (NER) 36:58.

Annacurra Camogie 5-Bounds Challenge 10km, Aughrim, Co Wicklow. (37 finishers)
Men: 1 Paul Duffy 42:25, 2 Dara Croake 45:41, 3) Alan Dempsey 47:27.
Women: 1) Dena Hogan 46:12, 2) Grace O’Rourke (DSD) 52:29, 3) Emma Doyle 69:00

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The post Lizzie Lee and Gary O’Hanlon win Stook 10 Mile Road Race – weekend round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

Lizzie Lee, Mick Clohisey and Gary O’Hanlon are expected to lead the Irish charge against a top international field at the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon on Sunday (October 28).

Leevale AC’s Lee, who finished 29th over 26.2 miles at the European Championships in August, will face Remalda Kergyte of Lithuania, Caroline Jepchirchir of Kenya, and Ethiopian duo Motu Gedefa and Mesera Dubiso in the hunt for the women’s title.

Kergyte, has a personal best of 2.35.13, while Jepchirchir won this year’s Belfast Marathon.

Cork native Lee has a personal best of 2:32.51 from Berlin in 2015 and last competed in the Dublin Marathon in 2006.

The Olympic marathoner has shown good form this season, setting a new personal best of 73:19 at the World Half Marathon Championships in March before winning the Women’s Mini Marathon for the first time in June.

Photo: Michael Scott

The Irish national title will be a battle between Lee and fellow Olympian Caitriona Jennings. Letterkenny AC’s Jennings placed second in the 2017 National Championships.

Reigning national champion Laura Graham will not line up due to injury, however other contenders include Galway City Harriers’ Jane Ann Meehan and Calry AC’s Zola Flynn.

RELATED: The alternative route to the top by Ireland’s marathon women

In the men’s race, Raheny Shamrock’s Clohisey toes the line against defending champion Benard Rotich of Kenya and Great Britain’s Josh Griffiths.

Rotich clocked 2:15:53 for the win last year, while Welshman Griffiths memorably ran 2:14:53 on his debut marathon in London last April to clinch the British title, before representing GB at the 2017 World Championships.

Clohisey races in Dublin for the first time and heads into Sunday’s race after running a personal best of 2:14:55 at the Seville Marathon in February. The 32 year-old followed that up with an 18th place finish at this summer’s European Championships marathon.

Kenya’s Vincent Tonui, Eric Koech and Joel Kiptoo are all likely to be top 10 finishers, while Asefa Bekele of Ethiopia who finished third in 2017 and 2015 should also be in the mix.

Along with Clohisey, there are several athletes vying for the national honours who have the potential to run sub 2:20. Last year’s national champion Gary O’Hanlon, who ran a personal best of 2.18.53, will be joined by Clonliffe clubmates Sergiu Ciobanu and David Flynn, however, Stephen Scullion will not line up as he is recovering from injury.

In June, 44 year-old O’Hanlon won the Cork City Marathon, before going on to win the master’s category at September’s Berlin Marathon in a time of 2:19:06.

RELATED: Gary O’Hanlon declared 2017 Irish National Marathon Champion

Flynn won this year’s Dublin Half Marathon in 66.21 and makes his debut over 26.2 miles this weekend.

Other contenders include Tallaght AC’s Tomas Fitzpatrick, Chicago-based Thomas Frazer of St Malachy’s AC, Eoin Callaghan of Star of the Sea AC and Rathfarnham AC’s Louis McCarthy.

In the wheelchair race, four-time champion Patrick Monahan will have to contend with a strong international field, that includes Great Britain’s Johnboy Smith.

This year’s event also marks a celebration of female runners with Constance Markievicz, a key campaigner for Irish women’s voting rights, appearing on the finishers medal. Since 1980 the number of female participants has grown from 70 to 7000 in 2018.

How to watch

Up to 20,000 runners are set to take part in the 2018 Dublin Marathon with the action beginning at 9am.

A live stream will be available on YouTube and the link can be found here. Live tracking of runners can also be found here.

RELATED: Bernard Rotich wins Dublin Marathon & Laura Graham retains national title

RELATED: Dublin marathon runner handed anti-doping ban

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At the Berlin Marathon on Sunday (September 16), Gary O’Hanlon of Clonliffe Harriers finished 22nd in 2:19:06 – not far off the personal best time of 2:18:53 he ran last year at the Dublin Marathon.

This was the fourth marathon this year for the Irish marathon champion. In April, he finished 17th overall and first over 40 in London clocking a time of 2:21:14 despite the searing heat which found him fading badly in the later stages of the race.

Less than two months later, he won the Cork City Marathon in a course record time of 2:21:10. In late August, he won the Longford Marathon in a slightly faster time of 2:21:00. Not bad for a man that turned 44 on July 31 and is highly likely to defend his Irish title in Dublin at the end of next month.

A large contingent of Irish athletes chased fast times in Berlin with four men in the top 100. The other three were Rathfarnham’s Robert Murphy 52nd in 2:25:23, Tomas Fitzpatrick of Tallaght AC 60th in 2:26:19 and Paddy O’Toole 83rd in 2:28:32.

Best of the Irish women was Sally Forristal of St Joseph’s AC who was 78th woman in 2:57:39. Letterkenny’s Ann-Marie McGlynn, who had hoped to make her marathon debut in Berlin, was a non-starter.

None were quite in the class of Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge who smashed the world record with a sensational time of 2:01:39. A full report can be found here.

Roads

Leevale’s Michele Finn won the Cork Women’s Mini Marathon 4-Mile on Sunday (September 16) in a time of 20:48. Anna Reddin of Crusaders AC was second in 21:29 and Martina Kiely of St Finbarr’s third in 22:09. A total of 5,824 completed the run.

Also on Sunday, Shane Lynch of Glenmore AC won the Conor/Mallon 5km in Dundalk, Co Louth in 16:51. He was followed home by Dunleer junior Peter Meegan in 17:30. DSD’s Niamh Devlin was first woman in 18:40.

First home at the St Brigid’s 5km in Castleknock, Co Dublin was junior athlete Daire Finn in 15:02. He took the scalp of Rathfarnham marathon man Sean Hehir who finished in 15:10. Third and first woman was Catherina McKiernan in 17:17.

Acorns AC made it a double at the Tafelta AC 10 mile on Saturday (September 15) with wins for Vincent McKenna and Leanne Sands. McKenna finished in 53:26 and Sands in 71:06.

Also on Saturday, former Irish steeplechase champion Tomas Cotter of Dunleer won the Fr Mulligan 5km in Co Louth in 16:10. Laura Mathews of North East Runners was fifth and first woman in 20:01.

At the Kilmore 10km, also on Saturday, Freddy Sittuk of Raheny Shamrock won the race for a second time finishing in 32:30. Niall Shiels of St Killian’s in 32:39 and Enda Cloake of Slaney Olympic in 33:44 were second and third.

First woman was local athlete Fiona Kehoe in 37:22, Jackie Carthy, fresh from the World Masters in Malaga, was second and Ann Sullivan of DMP third.

World Mountain Running Championships

Sarah McCormack of Clonliffe Harriers produced another top twenty performance for Ireland at the World Mountain Running Championships in Andorra-Canillo on Sunday (September 16).

In the tough uphill only 11.9km race with 1,000m of climb, McCormack finished 18th in 71:21, which was the best Irish performance of the day. It was a sixth World Championships for McCormack, whose best performance came in 2013 when she finished sixth.

In the men’s race over the same course, Zak Hanna of Newcastle and District finished 47th in 64:28, with Rathfarnham WSAF veterans Mark Ryan and Eoin Flynn right behind him in 50th and 51st places.

Ugandan athletes won the junior women and the senior men and women’s races, finishing top team in all three. Kenya won the senior women’s team title ahead of Great Britain.

World Masters

At the World Masters Championships in Malaga Spain, both Kelly Neely of City of Lisburn and West Waterford AC took double gold in the 800m and 1500m.

Neely, a former Irish senior international, was competing in the W4O age group while Gough lined out in the M65 races. He won the 800m in a new European record time of 2:16.38 and the 1500m in 4:49.63, beating Britain’s Kevin Archer into second place.

In the W50 800m and 1500, Anne Gilshinan of Slaney Olympics, making her world masters debut, took double bronze.

Other good Irish performances came in the 10km road race where Annette Kealy of Raheny Shamrock in the W50 age group and Sean McGrath of West Cork M35 both took silver, while Carmel Crowley took W65 bronze.

Bronze medals went to Letterkenny’s Ciaran Doherty in the M40 steeplechase and Snezana Bechtina of Clonliffe Harriers in the W35 200m.

In the cross country races that started the ten days of competition, Jackie Carthy of Kilmore AC was second W45 and Carmel Crowley second W50, while Niamh O’Sullivan of An Riocht, who is the coach to Shona Heaslip, was third W55.

parkrun

Annette Kealy ran 18:09 at the Malahide parkrun to recorded the fastest women’s time across the island of Ireland this week, while parkrun tourist Elly Tarus clinched the men’s official number one spot on Saturday with a 16:05 run at the Antrim event.

The fastest parkrun times across Ireland can be found here.

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patreon. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post Gary O’Hanlon best of Irish in Berlin – weekend round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

National marathon champion Gary O’Hanlon of Clonliffe Harriers was the runaway winner at the Longford Marathon on Sunday (August 19).

O’Hanlon’s time of 2:21:00 saw him finish with over 21 minutes to spare over Raheny Shamrock’s Freddy Sittuk who finished in 2:42:52. In third place was was Peter Mooney in 2:49:27. First woman in 2:58:40 was Adrianna Melia who was also 10th overall.

Paddy O’Toole won the half marathon in 74:07 with Adele Walsh of St Senan’s first woman in 84:54.

Winning the ultra race was Keith Whyte in 4:24:54. Thomas Maguire was second in 4:34:58 was second and Dawn Shanaghy first woman in 6:42:02.

Thomas Hayes of Kilkenny City Harriers and Jane Bandila of Dunboyne AC were the winners of the St Coca’s 10-mile race in Kilcock, Co Kildare, on Sunday (August 19). Hayes finished in 51:05 and Bandila in 62:40.

Clonliff Harriers and St Abban’s successfully retained their premier division National League titles at Tullamore on Sunday (August 19).

In the men’s competition, Clonliffe amassed 127 points with wins for Leo Morgan in the 100m, Jayme Rossiter steeplechase, Colm Rooney 1500m, Keith Marks long jump, Niall Counihan triple jump, Simon Galligan hammer, Stephen Rice javelin and the 4x100m squad anchored by Morgan.

The club was winning its ninth title in eleven years.

Finishing second were Galway City Harriers on 98 points, with their winners including Cillin Green 200m and Sean Breathnach shot and weight for distance. Third team was Kildare County. Breathnach also won the deferred national weight for height competition.

In the women’s competition, just ten points separated the top three, with wins for Ruby Millett 100m and 200m, Nicole Kehoe Dowling shot and discus, Saragh Buggy triple and long jumps, Daena Kealy high jump, Maisy O’Sullivan 800m, and Cheryl Nolan 1500m, helping St Abban’s to a total of 111 points.

Second on 105 points was Galway County while third on 101 were previous champions DSD, who were missing a few club stalwarts.

Race of the day was the men’s division 1 100m, won by Trevane Morrison of Kerry County in 10.62, with Marcus Lawler of St Laurence O’Toole’s AC second in 10.68. Victory in the 4x400m – the final race on the programme – gave Nenagh Olympic overall victory with 107 points. Just two points adrift were Kerry County with 105 points; St Laurence O’Toole’s were third with 100.5 points.

Winning women’s division one in an Ulster clean sweep were Monaghan County on 101 points followed by City of Derry Spartans on 89 points and City of Lisburn 88 points.

National Masters Track and Field Championships

Many times national shot putt champion Sean Breathnach of Galway City Harriers was the big winner at the National Masters Track and Field Championships held in Tullamore on Saturday (August 19).

Breathnach won his specialist shot with 15.43m, the discus with 45.51m, and the weight for distance with 8.03m, also finishing third in the hammer with 35.34m.

Niamh O’Sullivan of An Riocht AC was first W55 in the 3000m with a time of 11:02.43. Dominating the 5000m to finish in 15:03.41 was Niall Shanahan of An Bru AC.

In the sprints, Snezana Bechtina of Clonliffe Harriers retained her W35 100m and 200m titles in times of 12.80 and 26.03. Second behind her in the 100m was Avril Dillon of Dundrum South Dublin, who set the day’s only record in the 100m hurdles. Her time of 16.17 secs knocked over a second off Dannea Herron’s 1998 record.

Winning the men’s M35 100m in 11.51 was Riocht’s Jer O’ Donoghue, while in the M50 age group, David Hayde of St Laurence O’Toole’s AC won the 100m and 200m and was second in the 400m.

Joe Gough of West Waterford AC powered away from the field to win the M65 800m; his time of 2:21.50 would also have won the M55 and M60 titles. Gough was one of a number of competitors using the championships as a final test before next month’s World Masters Championships in Malaga, Spain.

Winning the W35 800m in 2:20.12 and later proving best in the 1500m was Martina Kiely of St Finbarr’s AC. An impressive winner of the W50 800m was Anne Gilshinan of Slaney Olympic AC in 2:22.32.

Oldest competitor in action was 92-year old Sean Cowler of Donore Harriers, who was making a comeback to competitive athletics after a 20 year absence and was cheered all the way to the line in the 100m.

For the first time ever, a women’s weight for distance competition was held and lashing the 28 lb eight out to 6.16m for the biggest throw of the day was Eileen O’Riordan of Gneeveguilla AC who was the W45 winner.

Winning the W70 title was Clonliffe’s Frances Mansfield, who also won the W70 discus.

parkrun

Under-17 athlete Conall McClean ran the fastest time at parkrun across the island of Ireland this weekend with a 16:25 run at the Waterworks in Belfast.

Deirdre Byrne was the quickest woman on Saturday running 17:27 at the St Anne’s event in Dublin. The top 10 times at Irish parkruns can be found here.

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patreon. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The post Gary O’Hanlon wins Longford Marathon and clubs retain league titles appeared first on Fast Running.

Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock, who will compete in the marathon at next month’s European Championships, was the runaway winner of the Roscommon 10-Mile in 49:31.

Ballyfin’s Colin Maher was second in 53:18. The first woman was Sinead Foran of Athenry AC in 67:07. A close second in 67:14 was Sligo AC’s Mari Johnston.

Winner of the Achill Half Marathon in 70:45 was national marathon champion Gary O’Hanlon of Clonliffe Harriers. The first woman was Amanda Watters in 92:13.

At the Great Rossa Run Half Marathon in Ardboe in Co Tyrone on Sunday (Jul 8) Delfin Pimental from Dungannon was the winner in 78:53.

Newry’s Don Travers was over a minute behind for second in 80:09 and Eimear Nicholl of St Peter’s Lurgan fourth overall and first woman in 84:18.

Just behind her in fifth place and first M55 was Olympian and twice Belfast Marathon winner Tommy Hughes of Termoneeny Running Club in 84:84.

Simon Ryan of Boyne AC was the winner of the St Kevin’s Community 5km on Friday evening (July 6) in a time of 16:12. Tallaght’s Laura McDonnell was the first woman in 18:33.

Track

Sarah Healy starred in the distance events at the European U18 Championships winning two gold medals in the 1500m and 3000m.

Photo: European Athletics via Getty Images

It was a competition of success for the Irish in Gyor, Hungary, with 15-year-old Rhasidat Adeleke taking to gold in girls 200m and Sophie O’Sullivan bagging silver in the girls 800m. Full reports from the four days of action can be found here.

Leevale’s Michele Finn, who made her return from injury two weeks ago at the Irish National League (10:08), was back in action hoping to make up for lost time at the BMC Meet in Eltham on Saturday (July 7).

She won the race in 10:27.11 with her Rio Olympics teammate Sara Treacy from Dunboyne AC second in 10:35.30. Although only three competed in the race, it was a much needed outing for the two Irish athletes.

Kerry O’Flaherty of Newcastle, the third of the three “steeple chicks” who qualified for Rio, is currently top of the rankings with a time of 9:53 from Oordegem in May, which is inside the B qualification time of 9:55 for the European Championships.

Also in Eltham, Conor Dooney of Raheny Shamrock ran a time of 8:10.47 for fifth in the men’s 3000m. One place behind in 8:11.30 was Jayme Rossiter of Clonliffe Harriers. Both times were lifetime bests. In the 800m, junior athlete John Fitzsimons of Kildare AC finished second in the A race with a time of 1:49.59. Emerald’s Amy O’Donogehue won the women’s A 1500m in 4:18.84.

An Irish women’s 4×100m team competed at the Lausanne Diamond League on Thursday (July 5), where they clocked a time of 45.64.

Leading off the team was junior athlete Lauren Roy of City of Lisburn, aged just 17. Making up the team were the experienced trio of Bandon’s Joan Healy, Niamh Whelan of Ferrybank AC and Sarah Murray of Fingallians. Race winners in 42.29 were Switzerland. In May, a different Irish 4×100m ran 44.15 in Oordegem, Belgium.

parkrun

Westport AC teenager Ethan Lloyd claimed the men’s number one spot across the island of Ireland after a 15:38 run at his hometown event.

Catherina McKiernan was the fastest woman this week with a 17:24 run at the Malahide event. The Irish marathon record holder and multiple time World cross country medalist was taking part in her 18th parkrun. The top 10 times from Irish parkruns can be found here.

The post Mick Clohisey among winners on Irish roads – weekend round-up appeared first on Fast Running.