Yared Derese of Carrick Aces took a fine win at the Bohermeen Half Marathon on Sunday (March 8) when he defied the cold and blustery conditions to finish in a time of 63 mins 54 secs. The only athlete attempting to stay with Derese was Kevin Dooney of Raheny Shamrock AC and he was rewarded with a fine time of 64 mins 26 secs.

A distant third in 69:25 secs was former international race walker Colin Griffin of Ballinamore AC. In a closely fought team battle, Trim AC, with Sean Murphy in 21st place their first counter, beat Carrick Aces on count-back. Raheny Shamrock finished third.

First woman in 77 mins 16 secs was Barbara Cleary of Donore Harriers who was also first W45. International mountain runner Sarah McMahon (nee Mulligan) of Dundrum South Dublin AC was second in 78:26 and Fiona Kehoe of Kilmore AC third in 80:05. Taking the team title was Brothers Pearse AC from Dublin, led by Sinead Tighe in 16th place. Raheny Shamrock AC was second and Trim AC third.

Surging over 10 miles

In Cork, at the Duhallow 10-Mile, also on Sunday (March 8) newly minted Irish citizen Hiko Tonosa of Dundrum South Dublin AC was a clear winner of the race in 50 mins 38 secs. Cillian O’Leary of Raheny Shamrock was second in 51:56 and Tom Lupton of Portlaoise AC third and first M40 in 54:35.

First woman was Linda Grogan of Dundrum AC in Co Tipperary with a time of 62:19. Niamh Cronin of St Finbarr’s AC was second in 65:46 with Sandra Manning of Eagle AC a close third in 65.57.

Letterkenny’s AnnMarie McGlynn was in fine form at the Walled City 10-mile in Derry on Saturday (March 7) where she finished first woman in 57 mins 15 secs. Race winner was Craig Simpson of Foyle Valley AC whose time of 52 mins 14 secs put him comfortably clear of the chasers led by Eoin Hughes of Acorns AC in 53:05.

Winners at the Kinvara 10km, also on Saturday, were Louis McCarthy in 433 mins 26 secs and Julie Kirwan in 39:07, while in the accompanying half marathon David Bohan ran 75:32 for victory ahead of Brian Furey, with Jane Ann Meehan first woman in 83:12.

Another Saturday race was the Simon 5-Mile in the Phoenix Park which had moved from its traditional autumn date and attracted over a thousand finishers. Leading them home was Tim Grummell of Sli Cualann AC in 27 mins 29 secs. Second and first woman was Laura Shaughnessy of Galway City Harriers in 27:33. while third was Robin Mooney in 27:41.

At Quest Kenmare on Saturday, winners of the elite 78km multi-sport race were Sebastian Giraud in 3 hrs 14 mins 10 secs and Ellen Vitting of Trim AC in 3:34.41. The athletes had to run, cycle and kayak their way along the near 50 mile route.

Photo: Lindie Naughton

Schools hat-trick for Morgan

Michael Morgan from Summerhill college in Sligo made it three in a row when he won the senior boys’ race at the All Ireland Schools Cross-Country Championships held in Santry in windy conditions on Saturday (March 7).

Morgan, who had won intermediate titles last year and the year before, played a waiting game when Daniel Stone of Belvedere broke away to lead the race by some distance early on, When he made his his move on the third of four laps, he soon caught and passed a tiring Stone.

In an absorbing battle for the minor placings, Conall McClean of DMC Titanic Quarter and Shay McEvoy of St Kieran’s Kilkenny had also passed Stone, while not far behind were Shane Coffey of Naas CBS, Louis O’Loughlin of Moyle Park and Oisin Spillane of Mercy Mount Hawk.

In the end, they finished in that order with Morgan finishing the clear winner in 18 mins 53 seconds, McClean six seconds behind for second and McEvoy just making it to the line in third place after staggering and falling within sight of the line.

For Stone in fourth place there was the consolation of leading Belvedere to a rare senior team victory, with St Malachy’s Belfast second and St Kieran’s Kilkenny third.

Tactical racing

Equally tactical was the girls senior race, which was over 3,500m compared to 2000m in the past, and proved a tough challenge. Lucy Holmes of Ard Scoil nas nDeise was the winner in 13 mins 56 secs, followed by Celine Gavin of St Dominic’s Cabra in 14 mins 4 secs, with Holly Brennan of Sacred Heart Drogheda third. Loreto Kilkenny was first team followed by St Angela’s Waterford and St Dominic’s Cabra.

Dominating the boy’s inter race was Abdel Laadjel of Kishogue Community College, who had a clear victory over Matthew Lavery from st Malachy’s and Dean Casey of St Flannan’s Ennis. St Flannan’s was first teams, followed by St Malachy’s and St Kieran’s Kilkenny.

In the girls inter race, Eimear Maher of Mount Anville in Dublin caught early leader Kirsti Foster of Down High School who had looked certain of victory in the later stages of the race and stromed home for the most dramatic victory of the day. Avril Mellerick of Midleton High School was third and Pobailscoil na Trionoide first team ahead of Loreto Mullingar and Down High School.

Junior winners were Lauren Madine of St Mary’s Downpatrick and Oliver Hopkins of St Declan’s CBS Cabra, while minor winners were Saoirse Fitzgerald of Lucan Community College and Luca O’Shea Breen of Temple Carrig in Greystones.

Doyle and Coscoran battle it out

At the Irish Universities Cross-Country, also on Saturday, at Curraheen, Cork, Cliona Murphy of Trinity College won the women’s title with a good win over Claire Fagan from DCU.

With Caron Ryan third, Sorcha McAllister eighth and Claire Rafter 15th, Trinity finished top team, beating perennial winners DCU by three points. Completing a Dublin clean sweep was UCD in third place.

DCU’s Cathal Doyle won a competitive men’s race from man of the moment Andrew Coscoran, also DCU, with just three seconds in it. Paul O’Donnell of UCD was third and Pierre Murchan of NUI Galway fourth. With four in the top six, DCU retained its stranglehold on the title. University of Limerick was a distant second and Trinity College third. Best college overall was DCU followed by Trinity and NUIG.

Photo: Lindie Naughton

Closing out the BHAA cross-country season was the AIB promotion in the tranquil setting of NUI Maynooth on Saturday (March 7) where Colm Turner of Garda was the winner of the men’s open 4-mile race in 21 mins 44 secs.

He was followed home by Thomas Sherlock from Bank of Ireland with Seoirse Comerford from Cairn Homes third and first M45. In th eteam categoriesBank of Ireland won grade A from Central Bank and Gardai; Teachers won B, Dublin Bus C and Revenue D.

Winner of the women’s 2-mile race was Helen Brouder of Teachers, with Sonya McConnon a close second and Niamh Corby of Revenue third.

The Health group, led by Grainne Butler in fourth place was first team, ahead of Retail and Revenue. In the open 4-mile, Rachel Yorke of VHI was first woman. Next up on the BHAA calendar is the RTE Indoor Mile in the NIA, Abbotstown on Wednesday April 1 (7.30)

Golden Gilshinan at indoors

Anne Gilshinan of Slaney Olympic AC underlined her status as the world’s best female master middle distance runner when she posted the fastest women’s 800m time of the day at the National Masters Indoor Championships in Athlone on Sunday.

Running in the W55 category, Gilshinan finished in 2 mins 20.10 secs which would have won her the title in any age group from W35 up.

Equally dominant in the men’s M65 400m was multiple world 800m and 1500m champion Gough of West Waterford AC, who only narrowly missed breaking the minute when he finished in 60.04 secs.

Winning both the W40 3000m and 1500m was former Irish senior international athlete Kelly Neely of City of Lisburn AC. She clocked 5:03.81 for 1500m and 9:50.54 for a 3000m race where the lap counting went somewhat awry for the later finishers.

Before that happened, Annette Kealy of Raheny Shamrock AC added the W50 title to her already impressive collection with a time of 10:20.43.

Taking the M50 800m title with a time of 2:04.31 was Shane Healy of Metro St Brigid’s AC who has been re-writing the record books for his age group over the past few weeks. He then finished third in the 400m with a time of 57.99 secs.

Middle distance race of the day was an M45 show-down between Mark O’Shea of Drogheda and District AC and Shane O’Neill of Rathfarnham WSAF AC. O’Shea just shaded it in 2:03.13 with O’Neill second in 2:03.90. O’Neill went on to win the 1500m in 4:16.66.

In the older age groups, Martin McEvilly of Galway City Harriers won both the M70 800m and 3000m in times of 2:53.45 and 11:55.18 respectively.

Cronin cruises it on the hills

A small piece of athletics history was made on Saturday (March 7) when Kate Cronin of Raheny Shamrock was the outright winner of the Howth hill race in Co Dublin. [It’s a fine way to celebrate International Women’s Day – ed.]

Cronin finished the new-look 9.6 km course in 45 mins 55 secs. Her fellow international athlete Killian Mooney of Dundrum South Dublin AC was second in 46:22 and orienteer Conor Short of CNOC third in 46:26.

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The post Golden Gilshinan over 800m indoors – Irish round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

Ciara Mageean got her 2020 season off to a good start when she improved on her own Irish 1500m indoor record at the World Athletics Indoor Tour in Boston on Saturday (January 25) .

In her first race after a block of altitude training in Albuqueque, Mageean ran a time of 4 mins 06.42 secs for third place after moving up from fifth in the final 100m. Race winner was the Australian Jessica Hull in 4:04.14 with Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen second in 4:04.38.

Next up for Mageean is the Athlone International Grand Prix on Wednesday February 12, followed the World Athletics Indoor Tour in Madrid on February 21 and the National Track and Field Championships in Abbotstown at the end of February. With the Tokyo Olympics her top priority, she has no plans to run the World Indoors in China.

Andrew Coscoran of the Dublin Track Club joined the sub-4 minute mile club in Boston this weekend. The Irish youngster battled all the way to the line with American Craig Engels, a former Nike Oregon Project athlete, and Coscoran posted 3:56.85, the exact same time as the US World 1500m finalist at the 2020 BU John Thomas Terrier Classic.

It’s the first sub 4 minute mile under the Dublin Track Club project and just shows the exciting performances coming from the group. We look forward to seeing more action in the future from the DTC.

Photo: Lindie Naughton

Thrilling Raheny 5 once again

What a thriller the Raheny 5 mile on Sunday (January 26) proved to be with just 41 seconds separating the top ten men and Hiko Tonosa only winning in a sprint for the line.

Tonosa of Dundrum South Dublin AC finished in 22 mins 40 secs with Mayo man Hugh Armstrong just one second behind for second and Matt Bergin of DSD AC two seconds adrift again for third in 23:43.

Given the same time was Efrem Gidey of Clonliffe Harriers who finished fourth and first junior. Yared Derese of Carrick Aces was fifth and Kevin Dooney of host club Raheny Shamrock AC sixth. His clubmate Mick Clohisey, the defending champion, could only manage ninth place despite a very respectable time of 23:16.

Not quite as exciting was the women’s race although it still provided a battle to the line between Fionnuala McCormack of Kilcoole AC and defending champion Annemarie McGlynn from Letterkenny AC with McCormack taking the win in 25: 55 and McGlynn second in 26:00. Ciara Hickey of Brothers Pearse AC was third in 26:50.

Record numbered signed up for the team categories, with over 70 teams in both men and women’s senior, and over 50 in both over 40 age groups. Having a great outing was Dundrum South Dublin with three wins- senior men and women and over 40 women. Winning the men’s over 40 grade was North Belfast Harriers.

Photo: Keith McClure

McKinstry continues to impress

National champion Mark McKinstry of North Belfast Harriers continued his domination of masters cross-country in Ireland when he won the men’s masters race at the Northern Ireland and Ulster Intermediate and Masters’ Cross-Country Championships held in Gosford Forest Park on Saturday (January 25).

Eoin Mullan of Omagh Harriers was second and Patrick Brennan of Finn Valley AC third. Finn Valley was first team, beating Newcastle AC and North Belfast Harriers. McKinstry will defend his title at the All Ireland Masters Cross-Country Championships in Avondale Forest Park, Rathdrum Co Wicklow on Saturday February 8 – yes, the same day as the Republic’s general election.

Taking the M65 title was Terry Eakin of North Down AC; Martin Kerr of Milford AC was second and Paul Spick, unattached, third.

Claire McGuigan of Lifford Strabane AC proved best in the women’s masters race finishing ahead of Helen McCready of Rosses AC and Shalene McMurray of Newcastle AC. Top team was North Belfast Harriers, followed by Lagan Valley AC and Ballydrain Harriers.

Winner of the intermediate women’s title was Sarah Kelly of Inishowen AC. Natalie Hall of Armagh AC was second and Mari Troeng of Newcastle AC third. Finn Valley was first team ahead of Armagh AC and Lagan Valley AC.

Patrick McNiff of Newcastle AC won the men’s intermediate race from Eskander Turki of Annadale Striders and Russell White of Dromore AC. r Annadale Striders was first team followed by with Acorns AC in second place for a sixth consecutive year and Newcastle AC third.

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The post Mageean & Coscoran excel indoors – Irish round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

Sinead Diver from Co Mayo finished fifth woman at the New York Marathon on Sunday (November 3). She missed out on fourth place by just two seconds.

Diver’s time of 2 hrs 26 mins 23 secs saw her finish ahead of the American pair Desiree Linden who finished in 2:26.46 and Kellyn Taylor a close seventh in 2:26.52. Diver went through 10km in 34 mins 9 secs and halfway in 72 mins 2 secs. Race winner was Joycilene Kepkosgei of Kenya in 2:22.38.

In the wheelchair race, Patrick Monahan, winner of the Dublin Marathon last week, finished eighth in a time of 1 hr 40 mins 5 secs.

Time to get muddy at cross country

Efrem Gidey of Clonliffe Harriers and Catherina Mullen of Metro St Brigid’s AC were the winners of the Dublin senior cross-country titles at Santry on Sunday (3 November).

Mullen proved the class of the field in the women’s 6km race finishing in 23 mins 1 sec. Crusaders AC pair Niamh Allen and Clara Costadura finished second and third, helping their club to a four point victory in the team race. Raheny Shamrock AC finished second and Donore Harriers third.

Photo: Lindie Naughton

In the men’s 10km race, Hiko Tonosa of Dundrum South Dublin pushed the early pace with his clubmates Paul O’Donnell and Emmett Jennings and Efrem Gidey of Clonliffe Harriers a pace or two behind after the opening lap. Not far off were Cathal Doyle and Ian Guiden of Clonliffe Harriers and Cillian Kirwan of Raheny Shamrock.

Leading a chasing group was Mitchell Byrne of Rathfarnham WSAF AC. The sticky underfoot conditions took their toll and soon it was Gidey up front with O’Connell on his heels and Tonosa in third place.

Gidey, the 2018 Irish junior champion, continued to push the pace and had a clear lead heading into the final lap. At this point, O’Donnell was forced to pull up with a back spasm and the fight was on for second place, with Cathal Doyle now in the top three.

Gidey sprinted home for victory in 32 mins 28 secs with Doyle second in 32:54 and Tonosa third in 33.21. With Colm Rooney fourth and Ian Guiden sixth, Clonliffe Harriers were comfortably first team ahead of DSDAC and Rathfarnham WSAF AC.

Traditionally, the top six places counted in the team competition, but for the first time this year, that number was reduced to four. As it happens, counting six finishers would have made no difference to the top three rankings.

In the junior races, DSD was top team in both the men and women’s races, with Aaron Donnelly winning the men’s 6km from his clubmate Oisin Kelly. First home in the women’s 4km was Aoife Coffey of Lucan Harriers. DSD pair Roisin Treacy and Emma Ryan finished second and third.

Making it a family double at the Donegal Cross-Country Champions in Stranorlar on Sunday (November 3) were Ciaran Doherty of Letterkenny AC and his wife Teresa of Finn Valley AC. Ciaran had run 2:31.20 at the Frankfurt Marathon a week earlier.

Leinster Senior XC Champs

Dublin clubs took both team titles at the Leinster Senior Cross-Country championships in Gowran, Co Kilkenny on Saturday (November 2).

Dundrum South Dublin, led by individual race winner Joseph Hastings, won the men’s race, while Raheny Shamrock AC finished best of the women.
A close second behind Hastings in the men’s race was James Kelly of Castlecomer AC, with Michael Kelly of St Abban’s AC third. St Abban’s finished second of the 15 club teams entered with Drogheda and District AC third.

Winning the women’s race was Clare Fagan of Mullingar Harriers. UCD’s Rose Finnegan was second and Lucy Barrett of Raheny Shamrock third.

In the junior races, Shane Coffey of Naas AC won the men’s race from Cian Kelly of St Abban’s AC and Cian McDonald of Ballyroan Abbeyleix and District. Tullamore Harries were first team.

Danielle Donegan was first of the junior women also leading Tullamore Harriers to team victory. Holly Brennan of Cillies AC was second and Roisin O’Reilly of Menapians AC third. Mullingar Harriers and St Senan’s AC were second and third of the teams.

A race that’s older than your gran

At the 85^th McConnell Shield Cross-Country in Ballyclare on Saturday (November 2), Eksandr Turki, who has transferred from Monaghan Town Runners to Annadale Striders, was a clear winner of the men’s race ahead of JP Williamson of City of Derry Spartans and Scott Rankin of Foyle Valley.

Winning team was Acorns AC, led by Matthew Neill in fifth place. Finishing 14^th and first M55 was the remarkable Tommy Hughes of Rathfarnham WSAF who had set a world record for his age at the Frankfurt Marathon only a week earlier.

Sarah Lavery of Beechmount Harriers won the women’s race, with Sarah Kelly of Inishowen Ac second and Robyn McKee of Dromore AC. Beechmount Harriers took the team prize.

Unusual race categories in Dungarvan

A completely unique race is the Brickey 5km organised by West Waterford AC in Dungarvan each year and held on Sunday (November 3). In an effort to spread the goodies around, prizes are awarded not only to the top three men but also to the winners in six weight categories from under 60kg to over 100kg.

So although Andrew Connick of Ferrybank AC was first home 15 mins 47 secs, with Noel Murphy of Waterford AC a close second, and Evan Fitzgerald of Clonmel AC third, there were also weight category prizes for Craig O’Brien of Ferrybank, Philip Harty, also Ferrybank, Pat Hennessy of West Waterford, Brian Graham of Carrick-on-Suir AC, Michael Callaghan of West Waterford and Kenneth O’Donnell of West Waterford.

The women’s race is more straightforward with Louise Morgan making it a Ferrybank double when winning in 20:12. The up and coming Sarah Nyhan of West Waterford was second and Mary Molloy of Carrick-on-Suir AC third. Finishing fourth was Sarah Nyhan’s mother Liz.

One of the oldest races on the Cork BHAA calendar

On a blustery morning at Tramore Valley Parkin Cork, Gavin O’Rourke of Eli Lilly and Carol Finn of Fin Physiotherapy were the winners of the annual HSE 5km at Tramore Valley Park.

The race, organised by the Business Houses Athletic Association attracted an entry of over 370 finishers including a sizable contingent from the Wibbly Wobbly Wonders.

O’Rourke led them home in 15 mins 53 secs, with guest athlete Tommy Connolly a close second in 15:56 and Fionn Harrington , also a guest, third in 15:59. Finn finished in 18:36, followed by Grainne O’Donnell of Kumon Douglas and Rosaleen Mackeown of Run with Ros. In the team categories, Army won men’s grade A, CPO grade B and Cork County Council C, while HSE was first in women’s grade A, UCC won B and Avondhu MF grade C.

Next BHAA race is the Irish Life Cross-Country in Santry, Dublin, on Saturday November 16 which will celebrate 40 years of the organisation.

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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!

The post Diver fifth in NYC in 2:26:23 – Irish weekend roundup appeared first on Fast Running.

We don’t see too many sub 15 and sub 18 parkrun times in the Irish roundup but this week two men cracked the 15 minute mark and three women went under 18 on a weekend of fast times.

Hiko Tonosa smashed the course record at Poppintree running 14:53. He became the first refugee to win an Irish national title when he won the Irish 10km road championships in April and captured the National 5,000m as well earlier this month.

With a time that would usually see him in the number one spot Neil Johnston of Springwell AC was this week’s second fastest runner with 14:59 at Belfast Victoria. The time was just eight second short of Paul Pollock’s course record for Johnston who ran a 5km road PB of 14:28 at Armagh this year.

Foyle Valley man Scott Rankin ran 15:41 at Limavady to finish third on the list this week having finished third in a tight podium battle at Dessie’s 10km on Wednesday in 31:39.

Top three crack 18 minutes

Rachel Gibson of North Down AC and Kirsti Foster of East Down AC shared the top spot on the women’s top 10 this week. Gibson ran 17:55 at Derry City and is in fine form this year with PBs at 10km, 5 miles and 1500m as well as big 3,000m PB of 9:33.18 set earlier this month.

Kirsti Foster was in the top spot last week, and maintains that this week running under 18 minutes for the first time with 17:55 at Belfast Victoria. With a big 800m PB of 2:17.78 at the Belfast International Foster also won Crawfordsburn 5K earlier this month.

Kate Cronin also cracked the 18 minute barrier running 17:56 to smash the course record at River Valley. Cronin has a half marathon best of 78:43 but is most commonly seen racing in the hills as one of Ireland’s leading mountain runners.

Despite the super quick times run this week 10 year old Emer McKee achieved the highest male or female age graded result in the top 10 times this week. McKee’s 18:33 at Belfast Victoria was a big personal best and achieved a WAVA grading of 92.00%.

Men’s top 10

1) parkrun: Poppintree
Hiko Tonosa, 14:53, Dundrum South Dublin Athletic Club
2) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Neil Johnston, 14:59, Springwell RC
3) parkrun: Limavady
Scott Rankin, 15:41, Foyle Valley AC
4) parkrun: Wallace
Adam Kirk-Smith, 16:16, Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies
5) parkrun: Wallace
Charles Hardy, 16:32, London Heathside
6) parkrun: Castlewellan
Aaron McGrady, 16:33, East Down AC
7) parkrun: Waterstown
Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan, 16:38, Donore Harriers
8) parkrun: Ardgillan
Rossa Hurley, 16:41, Donore Harriers
=9) parkrun: Castlewellan
Miceal McCaul, 16:43
=9) parkrun: Waterworks
Joe McAlister, 16:43, St Malachys AC

Women’s top 10

=1) parkrun: Derry City
Rachel Gibson, 17:55, North Down AC
=1) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Kirsti Foster, 17:55, East Down AC
3) parkrun: River Valley
Kate Cronin, 17:56, Raheny Shamrock AC
4) parkrun: Shanganagh
Sarah Baryga, 18:32
5) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Emer McKee, 18:33, Willowfield Harriers
6) parkrun: Killarney House
Joasia Zakrzewski, 19:02, Dumfries RC
7) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Lucy Foster, 19:05, East Down AC
8) parkrun: Marlay
Harriette Ann-Marie Robinson, 19:17, Dundrum South Dublin Athletic Club
9) parkrun: Cootehill
Lisa Clerkin, 19:25
10) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Jodi Smith, 19:27, North Down AC

If you would like to run faster at parkrun, top tips to help runners of all abilities can be found here.

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The post 10 fastest parkrun times in Ireland on Saturday 24th August (2019) appeared first on Fast Running.

Paddy O’Leary set a stunning new record of 16 hours 27 minutes 20 seconds for the Wicklow Round on Saturday (April 13).

His time broke the 2018 17:09:44 mark set by Joe “Stringbean” McConaughey, who last year went quicker than the 10 year old record of 17:53:45 set by Eoin Keith in May 2009.

The Wicklow Round, created in 2007 by mountain running veteran Joe Lalor, is a looped course covering 26 peaks totalling over 100km with over 6,000m climb. Navigation is by map and compass only.

“A competitor must have sufficient resources and skills to survive in a mountain environment for the duration of the attempt,” states the rules.

The aim is to run the lot in under 24 hours. After feedback from runners, a slightly shorter course knocked 18-20km off the original course, was first run in 2009. It starts and finishes at the Sally Gap and takes in all the big hills of Wicklow, most notably Lugnaquilla.

Before this weekend, a total of 21 attempts, some run by pairs and trios, had succeeded in breaking 24 hours on the current course. Joe “Stringbean” McConaughey is one of only three individuals to have finished in under 20 hours; the others being Adrian Hennessy who made it in June 2016 and Eoin Keith’s long standing record.

Such is the spirit of the mountain running community in Ireland McConaughey was actually supported throughout by previous record holder Keith when he broke the record and O’Leary seems to have made a point of meeting and getting involved with the local running scene as well.

“What an amazing adventure around the Wicklow Mountains,” said O’Leary afterwards on social media. “The conditions made for an interesting day, socked in with 50m visibility fog for the first nine summits, and a howling wind all day long that always seemed to be in my face (except for the last 2k of sprinting to the finish thankfully).

“I’ll have many great memories to share. Though the highlight was the consistent support and cheers from my crew, my friends and family, the IMRA community and the greater running community all day long.”

RELATED: The Irish runner you may not know with Olympics dreams

Karina Jonina is the women’s record holder having run 22:37:43 in May 2017 when she broke Moire O’Sullivan’s 2009 record.

There were four successful “rounds” in 2009 and then a gap until 2012 when just one attempt succeeded. There were two in 2013 and then another gap until 2015 when there were five successful attempts, followed by four in 2016, one in 2017 and four in 2018. That included a winter “round” last December by Paul O’Callaghan, who already has a summer round to his credit from 2016.

O’Leary, an ex-Irish international lacrosse player, with sporting roots in Wexford GAA has enjoyed considerable success since taking up trail running after a move to the USA.

He was top Irish finisher at the World Trail Championships in Spain last year and, on the roads, knocked off a 2 hrs 20 mins marathon. The Wicklow Round, he was hoping his first 18 years of “traipsing through the bogs of Bree searching for stray heifers” would stand to him on the day. They did!

Eoin Keith meanwhile was at the other end of the earth a week earlier for the UTMB Ushuaia Fin del Mundo, Argentina, with races from 35km to 130km in distance taking place between April 5-7.

Keith got a late entry for the 130km ultra on April 6 and was aiming for a podium finish in the M50 category. He duly finished second M50 and eighth overall in 17 hours 31 mins 16 secs. Winner was Jason Schlarb of the USA in 15:26.35.

Roads

Hiko Tonosa of Dundrum South Dublin AC and Catherina Mullan from Metro St Brigid’s AC took the men and women’s titles at the National 10km Championships held in conjunction with the Great Ireland Run in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Sunday (April 14).

Photo: Lindie Naughton

Tonosa and national cross country champion Kevin Dooney proved the class of the field in the men’s race, battling it out all the way to the line in bitterly cold conditions.

In the end, Tonosa had the edge winning by three seconds in a time of 30:41 with Dooney clocking 30:44.

Finishing third and first M45 was Declan Reed of City of Derry Spartans in 31:07. Conán McCaughey of North Belfast Harriers and Peter Arthur of Liffey Valley AC finished fourth and fifth and Peter Arthur of City of Derry Spartans sixth.

Mullen won the women’s title in 34:52 with Barbara Cleary of Donore Harriers second and first W45 in 35:17 and Grace Lynch of Iveragh AC third in 35:32.

In the master categories, Mayo AC’s Colette Tuohy was first W50, with her club mate PaulineMoran first W60. Winning the W55 age group was Niamh O’Sullivan of An Riocht AC.

In the men’s master categories, Dermot Hayes of Dundrum AC was first M50, Paul Cowhie of Civil Service AC first M55, and Johnny Feery of Tullamore Harriers first M60.

Best of the women’s senior teams were Mullingar Harriers, with Metro St Brigid’s second and Rathfarnham WSAF third. City of Derry Spartans took the men’s senior title ahead of North Belfast Harriers and Raheny Shamrock.

In the well-supported master categories, Donore Harriers proved best of the over 35 women, followed by Mayo AC and Le Cheile AC; best W50 team was Mayo AC, who have dominated this category for a number of years.

Rathfarnham WSAF not only had a clear win in the M35 age group, ahead of Newbridge AC and Sportsworld AC, but also won the M50 category, with Civil Service AC second and Mullingar Harriers third.

Winners of the Dromina 10 Mile in Co Cork on Sunday were Rory O’Connor of North Cork AC in 53:55 and Linda Byrne of Dundrum South Dublin AC in 63:23.

Donore Harriers’ Sinead Lambe ran 18:25 at the Malahide parkrun to record the fastest women’s time across Ireland on Saturday, while English runner Jon-Jo Doherty was the quickest man after running 16:20 at the Buncrana event in County Donegal.

The parkrun top 10 can be found here.

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The post Paddy O’Leary smashes Wicklow Round record – weekend round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

Hiko Tonosa and Barbara Cleary were the winners of the 50th Dunboyne Road Race which, for the first time, was held over the 10km distance on Sunday (March 31) and attracted an entry of close to a thousand runners.

Tonosa, of the Dundrum South Dublin club, was the class of the field in the men’s race and narrowly missed out on breaking 30 minutes with a winning time of 30:04.

In a close battle for second place, Eoin Everard of Kilkenny City Harriers used his track speed to outsprint his clubmate Brian Maher with the pair given times of 20:13 and 30:14.

First wheelchair was Jack Agnew of the TORC club in Belfast with a time of 26:50. Cillian Dunne was second in 27:49 and Sean McCullagh third in 29:46.

Cleary is continuing an impressive comeback after a long injury break; her winning time of 35:35 saw her finish 25 seconds clear of her Donore Harriers team mate Ide Nic Dhomhnaill who finished in 36:00.

Photo: Lindie Naughton

Third was Niamh Devlin of DSD AC in 37:37. Among the notable winners for the host club, Dunboyne AC, were Phelim Glynn first M50 in 34:05 and Mary Martin first W70 in 50:48.

Raheny Shamrock, led by Cillian O’Leary in fourth place, won the men’s team competition by some distance from host club Dunboyne AC and Drogheda and District. Winning the women’s team competition was Mullingar Harriers, with Dunboyne AC a close second and Raheny Shamrock third.

The success of the race means that, along with the Dunshaughlin 10km, Meath now has two top quality 10km races on fast, flat courses. Either would serve as a fitting host for a national championships.

Cathal O’Reilly was the winner of the New Inn 5km in Co Tipperary on Sunday in 16:32. Finishing second was Laura Shaughnessy of Galway City Harriers who was first woman in 17:14.

Sean Doran of C&E Products was the winner of the Dublin City Council BHAA 4-Mile in St Anne’s Park, Raheny on Saturday.

Doran finished in 20:57, with Paul Fleming of Ornua second in 21:08 and Colm Cassidy third in 21:13. Catherina Mullen, a guest runner, was seventh overall and first woman in 22:31. Ellie Hartnett was second in 23:15 and Orla Manley third in 25:43.

International competitions

Ireland finished 11th on the medals table at the World Masters Indoors in Torun, Poland which concluded on Saturday.

Joe Gough’s double in the M65 800m and 1500 was the games highlight for a strong Irish team that took 41 medals in total with ten of them gold, according to the official list.

Other winners were Snezana Bechtina of Clonliffe Harriers winner of the W35 200m, Anette Kealy of Rahney Shamrock, 8km cross country, Ann Woodlock of Donore Harriers W80 3000m, Mick Byrne of Sli Cualann ACM55 10km, John McDermott M75 400m and Sean Breathnach of Galway City Harriers in a nail-biting M40 discus throw that came down to his final throw.

Ireland also took team gold in the M55 10km and 8km cross-country and in the W60 half marathon.

Fionnuala McCormack of Kilcoole AC finished 18th and second European in the senior women’s race at the World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark on Sunday (March 30).

Photo: Michelle Sammet

McCormack’s time of 37:59 for the tough 10,000m course put her just eight seconds behind Anna Emilie Moller of Denmark who finished 15th.

Race winner was Kenya’s Helen Obiri who became the first female athlete to hold three world titles – she already holds the world indoor 3000m and outdoor 5000m titles. Ireland’s only other representative was Sara Treacy of Dunboyne AC who finished 73rd in 40:50. Ethiopia won the team title from Kenya and Uganda, with Great Britain a distant fourth.

In the men’s senior 10km, Sean Tobin of Clonmel AC finished 62nd in 34:33, with national champion Kevin Dooney of Raheny Shamrock 105th in 36:09. Race winner was Joshua Cheptegei, who was leading Uganda to a comprehensive team victory over Kenya and defending champions Ethiopia.

Not even an athlete as talented as Jacob Ingebritsen could break the stranglehold of East Africans on international cross-country in the U20 men’s 7.7km. The European champion finished a brave 12th in a race won by Milkesa Menghesa of Ethiopia in 23:52; Ingebritsen was 47 seconds behind in 24:39.

For Ireland Darragh McElhinney of Bantry AC finished 53rd in 27:00 and Jamie Battle of Mullingar Harriers 68th in 27:24. Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya were the top three teams; in the women’s U20 race the top three teams were Ethiopia, Kenya and Japan.

Hill racing

Former world masters mountain running champion, Robin Bryson, running in the M50 age group, was a comfortable winner of the Annagh Hill race in Co Wicklow on Sunday.

Bryson finished the steep 10.5km course in 61:42 with Barry Murray second in 62:13 and Mikey Fry a close third in 62:16. First woman was Becky Quinn in 71:52.

Juvenile Indoors

Irish international athletes Patience Jumbo Gula and Rhasidat Adeleke were among the double winners at the opening days of the National Juvenile Championships in Athlone on Saturday and Sunday (March 30/31).

Jumbo-Gula, of the St Gerard’s club in Dundalk, won the girls’ U19 60m title in 7.44 secs on Saturday and followed that up with victory in the 200m a day later in 24.79.

Adeleke, from Tallaght AC, competing in the U18 age group, won the 60m in 7.45 secs and the 200m in a new record time of 24.09.

Photo: Lindie Naughton

In the U18 boys’ 60m, Israel Olatunde of Dundealgan AC improved the record to 6.90 seconds, beating Zak Irwin’s time of 6.93 set in 2013.

Earlier this season, Olatunde set a new Irish U18 record of 6.84, also in Athlone. Fastest time of the day came from Leevale’s Conor Morey who won the boys’ U19 title in 6.84 secs; a day later, he won the 200m in 21.87.

Over 400m, 17-year-old Robert McDonnell of Galweay City Harriers dipped under 50 seconds to take the boys’ U18 400m in 49. 88 secs and followed that up a day later with victory in the 200m in 22.07.

Winning a closely contest U19 girls 400m was Simone Lalor of St LOT AC in 56.16; Rachel McCann of North Down was second in 56.47 and hurdles specialist Miriam Daly of Carrick-on-Suir AC third in 56.49.

Tadgh Donnelly of Drogheda and District beat Sligo’s Michael Morgan to win the boys’ U18 1500m in 5:05.11. Fastest girls’ time came in the U19 race won by Lauren Murphy of Cilles AC in 4:46.11.

A day later, Louis O’Loughlin of Donore Harriers showed a welcome return to form when he won the boys’ U19 800m in a new championships best time of 1:52.85. Cian McPhillips of Longford AC clocked 1:57.94 to win the U18 boys’ 800m, while winning the U17 title in 1:55.46 was Aaron Shorten of St LOT AC.

Fastest girls’ time came in the U17 race won by Ava O’Connor of Tullamore Harriers in 2:12.54. In the girls’ U16 race, a winning time of 2:13.02 from Victoria Lightbody of City of Lisburn AC was a new championships best.

In the high jump, a 2.05m effort from Nelvin Appiah of Longford AC gave him the U19 boys’ title. Una Brice of Leevale AC set a championships record of 3.0m in the girls U16 pole vault.

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Emma Mitchell of Queen’s AC produced the Irish performance of the weekend when she finished eighth woman in her debut half marathon at the Great North Run on Sunday (September 9).

Mitchell was with the lead pack at 5km which was reached in a time of 16:51 and although falling off the pace, went through 10km in a highly respectable 34:39.

The Northern Irish born athlete crossed the line in an encouraging time of 74:36 ahead of Britain’s more experienced long distance runners to finish as the first female athlete from the UK.

Leevale’s Lizzie Lee is the only Irish athlete, with a time of 73:24 in Barcelona last February, to run a faster over the distance this year.

Best among the Irish men was City of Lisburn AC’s Chris Madden, who finished in 71:46.

A day earlier, Leon Reid of Menapians AC finished fourth in the 150m with a time of 15.41 secs at the Great City Games.

RELATED: Leon Reid: It was a long season… but a good one

Hiko Tonosa of Dundrum South Dublin AC and Kerry O’Flaherty of Newcastle and District emerged as overall winners of the KIA race series with victories at the Mondello 10km in Naas, Co Kildare on Sunday (September 9).

For Tonosa, it was a seventh victory out of seven starts in the eight race series. His time of 30:16, saw him hold off the challenge of Raheny’s Kevin Dooney who was running his first race in some months and finished in 30:29. Dooney has featured on Fast Running throughout the year sharing his running story.

Third in 30:37 was Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock, who had one victory in the series to his credit.

Photo: Pop Up Races

Tonosa was the overall male winner of the race series but did not meet the criteria of winning the Kia Ceed (as he does not hold a full valid Irish driving licence). The DSD athlete, received a cash prize, with overall second place Eric Keogh from Donore Harriers the winner of the new Kia Ceed (for 12 months).

Kerry O’Flaherty was taking a fifth win in the series and finished in 34.45 and 10th overall. Just one place behind her was Laura Shaughnessy in 34.45. The pair were chasing the mixed team prize of €1,000 and had teamed up with Tonosa and Clohisey as ‘Mick’s Bag’.

Photo: Pop Up Races

With four in the top eleven, they duly pocketed the extra €1,000, beating off a team (somewhat dubiously) called ‘Ravishing Raheny Rides’ which consisted of Kevin Dooney, Graham O’Dwyer, fifth-placed woman Zoe Quinn and eighth-placed woman Orla Manley.

First in the wheelchair race was Patrick Monahan of Le Cheile AC in 24:24.

In Cork, Tim O’Donoghue was out on his own at the John Buckley Sports Cork 10-mile, leading home 740 finishers in 51:30. His East Cork club-mate Kevin O’Leary was second in 54.13 and Colin Merritt third and first master in 54.44.

Leevale’s Jill Hodgins proved the class of the women’s field winning in 60:24. Second and third were Catherine Kiely of Gneeveguilla AC and Katie Hickson of Cork Tri Club.

Freddy Sittuk of Raheny Shamrock was having a busy time of it on Saturday (September 8). He started his day in Blessington where he won The Lakes 10km in 32:33.

Louis McCarthy of Rathfarnham WSAF was second in 32:37 with Eoin Callaghan of Star of the Sea a close third in 32:40. A clear winner of the women’s race in 38:37 was Sandra Lynch of Kilcoole AC.

Sittuk then headed for Ferns, in Co Wexford, close to his current residence, where, later that day, he was first home at the Mick Murphy Memorial 4-Mile in a time of 20:38. Cian Kelly of St Abban’s, who finished in 21:14, just held off Aidan Rogers of United Striders for second place.

First woman was Fiona Kehoe of Kilmore AC in 23:32. Catherine O’Connor Sli Cualann was second in 23:52 and Justine O’Connell third in 25:03.

Winners of the inaugural half marathon in Blessington were Stephen Conroy of Celbridge AC in 79:54 and Triona Quill of Crusaders AC in 1:41.01.

Not far away in Co Meath, the winners of the Ratoath Half Marathon were Stephen Kelly of Drogheda and District in 74:48 and Aoife Parella of Star of the Sea AC in 91:45.

Dunleer’s Darragh Green and Irish steeplechase champion Michele Finn of Leevale AC were the winners at the Dromiskin 5km in Co Louth, also on Saturday (September 8), which attracted a record entry of 610 starters.

Greene’s time of 14:59 put him comfortably clear of Paddy Hamilton of Slieve Gullion Runners who finished in 15:15. Shane Healy of MSB was third and first M50 in 15:32.

Finn finished eighth overall in 16:45. Tallaght’s Laura McDonnell was second and Michelle Cox of Newbridge third.

Mountain running

Highlight of the 21st annual British and Irish Junior Mountain Running championships hosted by Ireland in Glendalough, Co Wicklow on Saturday (September 8) was Grace Carson’s stunning victory for Northern Ireland in the girls’ U20 race.

Carson, a member of the Mid-Ulster club, raced away from the field to finish in a time of 31:26 for the 6.7km up and down course.

That put her almost a minute clear of the chasers led by England’s Eve Pannone in 33:14.

The day has started well for Northern Ireland when Sorcha Mullan of Omagh Harriers finished third in the U17 girls 4.7km race. For the Republic, Aoife Coffey of Lucan Harriers was a close fifth.

In the boys’ U20 race, Northern Ireland, with St Malachy’s pair Tony McCambridge fourth and Conall McClean seventh, took team bronze. Making up the team were Jared Martin of Scrabo Striders and Peter Carty of Lagan Valley. For the Republic, Ruairi Long of Rathfarnham WSAF finished 10th.

Although they had only one individual winner, England finished top team overall for the 19th time in the 21 years of the competition.

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The finale of the Kia Race Series, a new nationwide series of well-established regional races around Ireland, will take place at the Mondello International in country Kildare on Sunday, September 9.

Of the seven races to date, eight course records broken and €4,000 worth of bonuses were paid to athletes, with an increase in entries of 29% across the events.

Dundrum South Dublin AC’s Hiko Tonosa claimed five records, while Kerry O’Flaherty of Newcastle & District broke three records.

The concept was developed by race organisers Pop Up Races, and a new Kia Ceed is up for grabs (for 12 months) for both the overall male and female winner, while there is also a team prize on offer of €1000 for the winning mixed team of four, with two males and two females needed per team.

Irish international O’Flaherty has dominated the women’s leaderboard in the series and is in the pole position to walk away with the top prize.

Speaking after the Dunshaughlin 10k Road Race in June she said: “That’s my fourth win out of four so I’m really delighted. I will miss the Roscommon race because it clashes with a track race I’m doing ahead of the European Championships, but I will be back to do the last race in Mondello.”

RELATED: Why I run: Kerry O’Flaherty

In the men’s field, Tonosa has dominated the series, breaking five-course records, including the Streets of Portlaoise 5k, The Braveheart 5K and Bob Heffernan 5K, will top the Kia Race Series 2018.

Unfortunately, Tonosa does not meet the criteria of winning the Kia Ceed as he does not hold a full valid Irish driving licence. The DSD athlete has been welcomed as an ambassador for the series in 2019.

Eric Keogh from Donore Harriers, who has performed consistently throughout the series, is currently placed second and is the most likely athlete to drive away with the new car.

RELATED: Hiko Tonusa and Kerry O’Flatherty win Dunshaughlin 10k

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Dundrum South Dublin’s Tonosa and Newcastle AC’s O’ Flaherty smashed the men and women’s course records at the Streets of Portlaoise 5km on Saturday (March 17).

A top quality men’s race saw Tonosa finishing in 14 mins 41 secs, just a second clear of Donore’s Eric Keogh. Third in 14 mins 49 secs was Raheny’s Mick Clohisey while fourth in 15 mins exactly was Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham WSAF.

Finishing tenth and first woman in 16 mins 11 secs was O’Flaherty. Early leader Shona Heaslip of An Riocht AC finished second in 16 mins 26 secs, with Claire Gibbons McCarthy of Leevale third and first W40 in 16 mins 40 secs.

First of the master men was Keith Shiels who was eighth overall in 15 mins 29 secs.

The race was the opening round of the Kia Race Series which aims to get the top road runners in the country racing each other in a series of eight races between now and September. Close to 700 completed the race.

Winners at the Mullingar Half Marathon were local athlete Johnny Daly in 72 mins 21 secs and Maria McCambridge of DSD in 78 mins 59 secs. A comfortable winner of the Balbriggan Cancer Support Half Marathon was Eoin Callaghan of Star of the Sea in 72 mins 26 secs.

First woman was Rachel Eustace in 92 mins 41 secs.

John Travers of Donore Harriers and Theresa Doherty of Finn Valley came out on top at the 45th annual Tubbercurry 10km.

Travers’ winning time was 31 mins 36 secs, with Jake O’Regan from St John’s Clare second in 32:51. Doherty was ninth overall in 35 mins 49 secs. Second woman was Sara Doohan of Corran AC in 38:24.

With ‘Baby Beast’ blowing snow all over Dublin and the east coast on Sunday, the St Patrick’s Festival 5km was cancelled. Away from the snow, the Tralee Marathon in Co Kerry was won by ultra man Alex O’Shea of St Finbarr’s in 2:38.22.

First woman was Dolores Duffy of Watergrasshill AC in 3:12.43. First home in the half marathon was Brian Murphy of Ennis TC in 77 mins 54 secs. Shona Keane was first woman in 85:37.

Indoors – Irish Juvenile Indoor Championships

Rhasidat Adeleke of Tallaght AC produced the sprint performance of the day at second day of the Irish Juvenile Indoor Championships in Athlone on Sunday (March 18).

Adeleke, who took 200m silver at the European Youth Olympic Festival last summer, ran 7.43 secs to smash the girls’ U17 record of 7.51 secs set by Ciara Neville. In the heats, Adeleke had also run 7.53.

The 15-year-old Tallaght sprinter is now 12th on the Irish all-time list.

Also in record-breaking form was Israel Olatunde of Dundealgan AC ran a new championships best of 6.98 secs, in the heats of the boys U17 60m and took the title with a time of 7.04 secs, which was also inside the old record of 7.07 secs.

Records also tumbled in the 1500m races, with Cian McPhillips, of Longford AC’ running 3:57.28 to win the U17 title in the fastest of the day. In the girls U16 final.

Aimee Hayde of Newport AC ran a time of 4:28.76 for victory – again by some way the fastest of the day over all age groups. A clear winner of the U18 title was Louis O’Loughlin of Donore Harriers who finished in 4:01.87; second was Brian Maguire of DSD in 4:06.06.

Fastest over 400m was Ciara Deely of Kilkenny City Harriers who won the girls’ U19 title in 56.17. Taking the boys’ U18 title was Jack Raftery of Donore Harriers in 50.17 secs; second was Ciaran Carthy of DSD in 50.42 and third Cormac O’Rourke of Lagan Valley in 50.47.

In the girls’ U16 shot, there was a new championships record of 14.67m for Casey Mulvey of Innyvale. Also in record-breaking form was Matthew Callinan Keenan of St LOT who soared over 4.26m to win the boys’ U19 title.

In the U17 age group, Moycarkey Coolcroo’s Adam O’Dwyer 3.71m effort was also a new record.

The post Hiko Tonosa, Kerry O’ Flaherty & Rhasidat Adeleke impress on St. Patrick’s Weekend appeared first on Fast Running.

Elsewhere this weekend, Mick Clohisey finished fifth at the Great South Run and Ian Bailey and Shileen O’Kane were the winners at the Garmin Mourne Skyline Mountain Trail Race.

In the men’s 8km race, Tonusa, originally from Ethiopia, who runs for DSD and arrived in Ireland over the summer, tucked in behind early leaders Mark Hanrahan of Leevale and Valdas Doploskas of Balbriggan and District on the opening lap.

Also in the leading group early were Gideon Kipsang and Adam Kirk Smith of Derry Track Club, along with Raheny’s Conor Dooney and English visitor Luke Caldwell.

Kirk Smith moved to the front on the second lap, with Hanrahan still pushing the pace and Kevin Dooney along with brother Conor, on their heels. A pace or two behind were Kipsang and Tonusa.

Only on the final lap did Tonusa move to the front leaving Kipsang to lead the chasers, who were not lapping the back-markers in the field.

In the end Tonusa finished in 22:58 and made it look easy although he had only three seconds to spare on Kipsang. Just five seconds behind again was Kirk-Smith with Kevin Dooney fourth and Conor Dooney fifth. Hanrahan held on for sixth place ahead of Caldwell and Doploskas, who had run a marathon the previous weekend.

Darragh McElhinney of Bantry AC was first of the U20 men, beating Jamie Battle of Mullingar Harriers into second place. Third was Michael Power of West Waterford.

The races was also a trial for next month’s British and Irish Masters International in Derry and first home of the declared masters was Paddy Hamilton of Slieve Gullion AC. He finished in 24:00 exactly and will lead the Irish M35 team in Derry.

Former Olympian Shane Healy of Metro St Brigid’s finished first in the M45 class, while first M50 was Colm Burke of St Abban’s. Tinryland’s Tommy Payne was first M55 and Martin McDonald of Ballyroan Abbeyleix and District was first M60.

In the older age groups who ran a shorter distance, JJ Murphy of Tinryland finished first in the M65 class. Milford’s James Doherty was first M70 and Jim Langan of Tullamore Harriers first M75.

Building an uncatchable lead from the start of the women’s 6km race was current Irish cross country champion Shona Heaslip of An Riocht AC. Behind her, Scottish visitor Mhairi MacLennan along with Michelle Finn of Leevale AC, Skerries AC’s Ciara Durkan, Jenny Nesbitt from Wales and Laura Crowe of An Riocht battled it out for the other places.

Heaslip crossed the line in 20:36, with MacLennan twenty seconds adrift for second and Finn just getting to the line ahead of Nesbitt for third. Durkan was fourth and Crowe sixth.

With the finish line in sight, Bandon’s Fiona Everard was leading the U20 race which at 4.5km, finished a lap ahead of the senior race. Not registering this, Everard headed out for a fourth lap. By the time she was called back, Laura Nicolson of Bandon AC had taken the victory ahead of Siobhra O’Flaherty of St Laurence O’Toole’s, and Avril Deegan of Ballyroan Abbeyleix and District. Everard finished 12th.

Shona Heaslip after winning the Autumn Open pic.twitter.com/M9kQCeZWxY

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) October 22, 2017

Of the declared masters, marathon woman Clare McCarthy of Leevale finished first and confirmed that she will lead the Irish team at the international. An impressive first W55 was Rose Lambe of Carrick Aces, who finished ahead of Riocht’s Niamh O’Sullivan, who coaches Shona Heaslip.

In the over 60 age group, Carmel Parnell of Leevale finished 22 seconds ahead of former Irish marathon champion Christine Kennedy of Galway City Harriers. Full results can be found here.

Raheny’s Mick Clohisey finished fifth in 49:02 at the Great South Run 10-mile race in Portsmouth. Next outing for Clohisey is the Dublin Senior Cross Country Championships on November 5 at Santry.

Ian Bailey and Shileen O’Kane were the winners at yesterday’s Garmin Mourne Skyline Mountain Trail Race. Bailey, a previous winner, finished in 3:57:18 with Seamus Lynch ten minutes behind for second. O’Kane used all her local knowledge to hold off the challenge of Megan Wilson, finishing in 4:56:43. Wilson was less than four minutes behind in 5:00:09.

London 2012 Olympian Linda Byrne of DSD was eighth overall and first woman in a time of 37:18 at the Longwood 10km in Co Meath on Sunday. The overall winner in 33:40 was Brian O’Kelly of Crusaders. Winner of the 5km was Kevin Kelly of St Coca’s in 15:33.

The post Shona Heaslip And Hiko Tonosa Win Autumn Open Cross Country – Irish Weekend Review appeared first on Fast Running.