The pair went through half way in 14 mins 49 secs, with Armstrong then pulling away in the final two kilometres to win by four seconds from Clohisey who finished in 29:36, A distant third in a personal best time of 30:47 was international triathlete Con Doherty.

First women and 15th overall was Breege Connolly of City of Derry Spartans in 34 mins 42 secs. Aoife Kilgallon from Sligo AC was second in 36:24 with her Sligo clubmate Eavan McLoughlin third in 37:38.

Neil Johnson of Springwell Runners were the winner at the 34th annual Greencastle 5-Mile in Co Tyrone. Johnson was followed home by Scott Rankin of Foyle Valley and Mark McKinstry of North Belfast Harriers. His winning time was 24 mins 54 secs. In fourth place, Matthew Neill of Acorns AC was first junior.

Emma Mitchell of Clonliffe Harriers was first woman in 29 mins 21 secs., with Pauline McGurran second and first W450 and April Clarke of North Belfast Harriers third.

Finishing 14th overall and first master in 28:02 was Tommy Hughes of Termoneeny who will celebrate his 60th birthday on 8 January next.

National four mile record

At the Clonmel 4-mile, local athlete Sean Tobin obliterated the course record with a time of 17:45. His time was faster than the 17:59 recorded by Noel Berkeley in Peoria, Illinois on 20 June 1992, which stands as the Irish best time for the distance. Tobin was wearing the state-of-the-art carbon fibre shoes which are helping athletes re-write the road running record books at the moment.

A distant second in Thomas Hayes for Kilkenny City Harriers in 19 mins 5 secs, with Kevin Moore of Dundrum AC third in 19:37. First woman was Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisokane AC in 23 mins 10 secs. Dymphna Ryan of Dundrum AC was second in 23:25 and Angela McCann of Clonmel AC in 23:33.

Also on December 26, Sean Doran of Clonliffe Harriers won the Streets of Wicklow 5km in 15 mins 47 secs just holding off Gareth Murran of Sportsworld who finished a second behind for second. Myles Gibbons of SBR Ferns was third and first M45 in 16:14. First woman in 27:33 was Sarah Mulligan of Dundrum South Dublin AC in 17.33. Clodagh Kelly of Croghan AC was second in 28:32 and Claire Earls of Inbhear Dee third in 18.48.

In Kilbeggan, Pauric Ennis won the St Stephen’s Day 6km in 19 mins 35 secs, with Euan Lagan second and Peter Mooney third and first M40. Nadine Donegan was first women in 22:36 followed by her sister Danielle who was also first junior in 22:40. Sinead Rigney was third.

Alan O’Shea of Bantry AC won the annual Dick Copithorne Memorial 4-Mile in Belgooly, Co Cork in a time of 19 mins 25 secs. Cillian O’Leary of Raheny Shamrock was second in 19:56 and Alan O’Brien of Eagle AC third in 20:19. Leevale’s Niamh Moore was first s woman hom in 22:51, followed by clubmate Louise Shanahan in 24:11 and Teresa Murphy of Kenta AC in 24:41. 426 finishers.

A day later (December 27), Ben Brunton of St Brigid’s AC was the winner of the Rita and Robbie 5km in Navan with a time of 15 mins 42 secs. Second and first junior was Tadhg Donnelly of Drogheda and District AC in 16:10, while third and first M40 was Brian Leahy of Raheny Shamrock in 16.14.

Karen Costello of Dunleer AC was first woman in 17:44, followed by Laura Buckley of Dunboyne AC and Ellen Vitting of Trim AC.

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 Great racing over 10km and a new Irish four mile National record appeared first on Fast Running.

Paul Moloney of Mallow AC led home a record 740 finishers at the Togher 5k in Co Cork on Sunday (December 30). With a time of 15:33, he just made it to the line ahead of Eric Curran of Leevale AC who finished in 15:36. Third was Gavin Sweeney of host club Togher AC in 15:49.

Leevale’s Michelle Finn was the class of the women’s field winning in 16:58, Her Leevale clubmate Niamh Moore was second in 18:05 with Teresa Murphy of Kent AC third in 18:14.

Photo: Damien O’Sullivan

Efrem Gidey made it a home win at the ERP Christmas Cracker 5k, organised by Clonliffe Harriers at Santry, also on Sunday (December 30).

Gidey led the race back into the Morton Stadium after a tour of the Northwood business park and finished in an unofficial time of 14:47. His clubmates, Ian Guiden and Sean O’Leary, finished second and third.

First woman was Irish U/23 international Siofra O’Flaherty of St LOT AC, followed by Donore’s Sinead Lamb and Mary Leech of Drogheda and District. Best of the juniors in personal best times were Ben Guiden and Sarah Bateson both Clonliffe Harriers.

Zak Hanna and Seamus Lynch from host club Newcastle and District AC paired up to win the annual Castlewellan Christmas Cracker relay in a combined time of 53:24 for the 8.5 mile course on Saturday (December 29).

The Newcastle pair finished close to two minutes ahead of Timothy Johnston and Jonathan Scott of Mourne Runners who finished in 55:03. Third in 55:37 were Luke McMullan and Mark Stephens of Newcastle AC.

Winning the masters race were Russell Hughes and Duncan Bell of Willowfield Harriers who were sixth overall in 57:38.

First mixed pair was Jessica Craig of North Down and Wesley McDonnell of Dromore AC in 61:33, while first female pair were Gerrie Short and Catherine Diver of Beechmount Harriers in 64:24. A total of 750 teams had entered the race with 677 finishing.

Fastest at the Mooreabbey Milers Mile in Galbally, Co Limerick, on Saturday (December 29) was Rory O’Connor with a time of 4:32. Paddy Cummins clocked 4:43 for second and John Fitzgibbon 4:45 for third.

Fastest woman and first W40 was Susan Murnane with a time of 5:30. Dymphna Ryan was second with 5:35 and Aine McGrath third with 6:07.

At the Shandrum 5k in Newtownshandrum on Saturday (December 29), Niall Shanahan of An Bru AC clocked 15:21 to win the men’s race and break the previous course record by 34 seconds.

Junior athlete Aisling Dunne was the first woman home in 19:06 over the hilly course.

Darragh Rennicks of Bohermeen AC was the winner of the annual Rita and Robbie 5k held in Navan, Co Meath, on Thursday (December 27).

Rennicks’ time of 15:28 saw him finish over 40 secs clear of second placed Donal Mulligan of Longford AC who finished in 16:14. Shercock’s Niall Smith was third in 16:37. Fourth and first junior was Jake Cullen of Tara AC in 16:54.

International athlete Sara Treacy of Dunboyne AC was first woman in 18:14; Emma Donlon of MSB was second in 18:41 and Tara Kennedy of Raheny Shamrock third and first W40.

Photo: Stephen Lee

In the team competition, Dunboyne with 34 points proved best of the men ahead of Navan AC and Na Fianna AC. First women’s team was Bohermeen AC with Tara AC second and Dunshaughlin AC second and third.

Mountain running international Ian Conroy of Raheny Shamrock clocked a time of 34.21 to win the Fat Turkey Run 10k in Sutton, Co Dublin organised by Suttonians RFC on Thursday (December 27). Raheny’s Zoe Quinn was first woman in 39:35.

Ciaran McCarthy was second of the men in 34:35 and Samuel Allen third in 35:18. Blaithin Shiel was second woman in 41:02 and Jacquie Dunphy third in 42.04.

St Stephen’s Day/Boxing Day, December 26

Irish marathon champion Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock won the annual Fields of Athenry 10k in Co Galway for a seventh consecutive year on Wednesday (December 26).

Photo: Gary Lee

Clohisey’s time of 29:46 was a new course record and saw him finish well over a minute ahead of Hugh Armstrong from Ballina AC, who came home in 31:07.

Brian O’Kelly of Crusaders AC was third in 31:55. In eighth place overall and first woman was Laura Shaughnessy of Dundrum South Dublin AC whose time of 34:55 was also a course record.

Jane Anne Meehan of Galway City Harriers was second woman in 37:12 and Colette Tuohy of Mayo AC third and first W45. The race attracted a record entry of close to 1,200.

A competitive field turned out for the Streets of Wicklow 5k where Hiko Tonosa of Dundrum South Dublin AC continued his comeback with a comfortable victory over Tallaght’s Tomas Fitzpatrick. Tonosa finished in 14:53 with Fitzpatrick twenty seconds behind in 15:03.

Third was Emmett Dunleavy in 15.07; Rathfarnham’s Sean Hehir was fourth in 15:27.

Best of the junior men was Joseph O’Shea who was 13th overall in 16:41. An impressive 12th overall and first M55 was Mick Byrne of Parnell AC.

First woman and first junior woman was Emma O’Brien of Inbhear Dee AC in 16:56. DSD’s Linda Byrne was second in 17:03 and Kilcoole’s Una Britton third in 17:28.

Biggest race in the north was the 33rd annual Greencastle 5 mile where British and Irish Masters champion Mark McKinstry of North Belfast Harriers ended a remarkable year with a runaway win in 24:42.

Second in 25:07 was Conor Duffy of Glaslough Harriers while third was Paddy Robb of St Malachy’s. Finishing 13th and first woman was track specialist Emma Mitchell of Team Nike in 28:29.

View this post on Instagram

Great way to spend Boxing Day up in Greencastle at the very popular 5mile road race proud coach day @emmamitchell05 taking the title with a impressive front running display and @sineady94 taking 4th lady home in a new 5mile pb picture credit @malcolmmccausland1921

A post shared by Belfast Irish Milers Meet (@eamonn.christie) on Dec 27, 2018 at 4:29am PST

Marathon woman Breege Connolly of City of Derry Spartans was second and Caitriona Jennings of Letterkenny AC third. Almost 900 completed the race.

In Kilbeggan, Co Tim Murphy of Mullingar Harriers was the winner of the St Stephen’s Day 6k. Finishing fourth at first woman was Anne Marie McGlynn of Letterkenny AC in a course record time of 19:59. Second woman and 14th overall was the ageless Pauline Curley of Tullamore Harriers, back racing after a long lay-off.

Brian Maher led home a trio of athletes from Kilkenny City Harriers at the annual MSD Clonmel 4 Mile, winning the race in 19:01. Behind him came clubmates Toss Hayes and Eoin Everard. First woman was Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisokane AC, with Sorcha Moloney of Ballyroan Abbeyleix and District AC second and Sally Forristal of St Joseph’s AC third.

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 From Togher to Castlewellan to Athenry – Irish round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

Shona Heaslip of Riocht ran a 10,000m personal best of 32:56 in wet conditions at the Galway County Championships on Thursday evening (June 14). Her time met the standard for the European Championships in August, but because it was achieved in a mixed race it will most likely not be recognised as a qualifying time unless it meets the IAAF rules for mixed 5000m and 10,000m races.

Last month in her first ever 10,000m, the Irish 10k road champion clocked 33:24 at the Highgate Harriers’ Night of 10,000m, which was just outside the European Championships B standard of 33:20.

At the Le Cheile International in Leixlip on Saturday (June 16) USA-based Hugh Armstrong of Ballina AC made a welcome return to domestic competition when he won the men’s 3000m race.

Armstrong’s time of 8:27.65 saw him finish clear of Paul O’Donnell from Dundrum South Dublin AC who clocked a time of 8:28.47. A close third in 8:28.86 was Pierre Murchan of Dublin City Harriers making a welcome return to racing. Clonmel’s Kevin Mansell finished fourth in 8:30.0.

The first junior was Efrem Gidey of Clonliffe Harriers who was seventh in 8:41.5. A day later, Gidey won the U18 3000m at the Dublin Juvenile Track and Field Championships in Tallaght.

A clear winner of the men’s A 1500m was John Travers of Donore Harriers in 3:49.51. Danny Mooney of Letterkenny AC was second in 3:51.41.

Visitor Elliot Cresten won the men’s Noel Carroll Memorial 800m in 1:51.53, with Kildare junior John Fitzsimons second in 1:51.90. Winning the women’s 800m in 2:08.22 was Alanna Lally of UCD. Amy O’Donoghue of Emerald AC was a close second in 2:08.41.

Over 400m, Dara Kervick of Clonliffe Harriers won the A race in 48.48, with Ferrybank’s Paul Murphy second in 48.64. British visitor Holly Turner won the women’s race in 54.88. In a closely fought 100m, Andrew Robertson of Sale Harriers beat Travane Morrison, the American student based in Tralee. Their times were 10.75 and 10.76 respectively.

Claire Mooney of UCD AC ran a career best of 2:02.82 when finishing eighth in a quality 800m at the Internationales Soundtrack Meeting in Tubingen, Germany on Saturday (June 16). Her time was just off the European Championships B standard of 2:02.50.

At the same meet, Ciara Mageean finished fourth in a blanket finish to the women’s 1500m. Just over half a second separated the top five with Mageean given a time of 4:06.70 – a season’s best. Behind her, Sarah Healy of Blackrock finished 11th in 4:09.25 – a time which not only smashed her own Irish U18 record, but is a European Senior Championships B qualifying mark, and the second fastest time by a European U18 athlete. More about Healy’s performance can be found here.

The fastest U18 European in 32 years!

17 year-old Sarah Healy smashed not only the Irish U18 1500m record but is now the second fastest European youth of all-time!https://t.co/XVwY3zCVNQ

— Fast Running (@FastRunning_) June 17, 2018

Thomas Barr ran the anchor leg for the Irish men’s 4 x 400 team that clocked a time of 3:08.15 for sixth place at the Citius Track and Field Meet in Berne, Switzerland on Saturday (June 16). Making up the team were Chris O’Donnell, Brandon Arrey and Andrew Mellon.

On the current ranking list for European Championships qualification, Ireland lies tenth with times of 3:05.08 and 3:07.63 from last season. Italy won the race in 3:02.11 with Great Britain second in 3:03.28.

Cliodhna Manning, Sophie Becker, Catherine McManus and Sinead Denny finished sixth in the women’s 4 x 400m in 3:38.72. Ireland is currently ninth on the qualifying list with times of 3:32.65 and 3:34 87 from last season. Winners were Great Britain in 3:28.59.

Hopes are high that both teams will maintain their top 16 places and qualify for the European Championships in Berlin, which is less than two months away.

There’s also hope for an Irish women’s 4 x 100m team, currently 12th in the rankings, with times of 44.15 for Oordegem last month and 44.31 from last season. The men’s 4 x100m team lies 26th in the rankings, but hasn’t produced any significant times so far this season and would need to break 40 seconds twice to break into the top 16.

Next up for the Irish relay squads are Diamond League invitations for both men and women’s senior 4 x 100m squads to the London Anniversary Games and for the senior women’s 4x100m squad to Lausanne.

In Berne, the relay squad members also ran individual races. Over 200m, Barr ran a time of 21.58 for third in one race, while Chris O’Donnell of Grange AC was fourth in 21.75 in another. In the elite 200m, Leon Reid of Menapians AC finished fifth in 20.68.

Cliodhna Manning of Kilkenny City Harriers finished third in 24.25 in one women’s 200m race, while Catherine McManus of Dublin City Harriers was second in 24.75 and Sophie Becker of St Joseph’s AC third in 24.89 in another race.

Ballymena’s Craig Newell finished third in his 400m race in 48.27, while Sinead Denny of DSD was second in the women’s 400m in 54.73.

Sommer Lecky of Finn Valley AC won the U20 women’s high jump title at the England Athletics U20 and U23 Championships in Bedford on Sunday (June 17). Her 1.84m jump is her second inside the World Junior Championships B standard of 1.82m. In the women’s U23 hammer, Michael Walsh of Swinford AC came out on top with a record-breaking throw of 64.22m, which restores her to the top of the Irish rankings.

Roads

Hiko Tonosa of Dundrum South Dublin AC not only raced away from the field to win the Braveheart Trail 5km in Trim Co Meath on Friday evening (June 15), he obliterated the course record with a stunning time of 14:38.

That time put him over a minute clear of the chasers led by Peter Somba of Dunboyne AC. Somba finished in 15:44 – also a good time for a far from flat race held on grass tracks and trails beside the river Boyne. It means that Tonosa has won all five rounds of the KIA Road Racing Series to date. Third of the men was Conan McCaughey in 15:50.

The first woman and also a course record breaker was Olympic steeplechaser Kerry O’Flaherty of Newcastle and District AC who finished eighth overall in 16:40. A close second was Laura Shaughnessy of DSD in 16:48. Donore’s Sinead Lambe was third in 18:24.

Winning the Ballinagar 10km on the same evening was Mick Fogarty of Ferbane AC in 33:47. The first woman was Aisling O’Connor of Edenderry AC in 37:31.

A day later (Sat June 16), Peter Somba led home 673 finishers at the Castleknock 5km in a time of 15:25. Second was John Coghlan of Metro St Brigid’s AC in 15:43, with Conor Healy of Clonliffe Harriers third in 16:19.

The first woman was Catherina McKiernan of Annalee AC, who finished 12th overall in 17:51. Ashley Ryan of Civil Service Harriers was second in 18:02 and Karla Doran of Donore Harriers third in 19:51.

Gareth McGinley and Jill Hodgins were the winners of the Grant Thornton Team Corporate 5km in Cork on Wednesday (June 13). McGinley finished in 16:47, with Hodgins fourth overall in 17:19.

Zak Hanna of Newcastle AC was the winner of the Dromara 5km in 16:12 on Wednesday (June 13). The first woman was Susan Smyth of Dromore AC in 19:40.

In Co Tipperary, David Mansfield of Clonmel AC was the winner of the Michael Cahill 5km in 15:23. William Stephens of Coolquill AC was second in 15:48 with John Fitzgibbon of Thurles Crokes a close third in 15:50. The first woman was Grace Reilly of Portlaoise AC in 19:02.

Mountain running

Tony McCambridge not only finished tenth but led Northern Ireland to fourth place of 14 teams at the World Mountain Running International Youth Cup in Lanzada, Italy on Saturday (June 16).

4th at World Cup !!!!
N.Ireland U18 Mountain Running Team 4th at World Mountain Running Youth cup in Italy!!!! @BBCSPORTNI @bbcnewsline @BBCNewsNI @utv @irish_news @BelTel @NiRunning @AthleticsNI @SportNINet pic.twitter.com/EeuHLpUqp2

— Phil Hodge (@phil_hodge) June 16, 2018

McCambridge’s time of 21:18, put him just over a minute behind race winner Matthew Mackey of England who finished in 20:10. Making up the Northern Irish team were Conall McClean 16th, Jared Martin 28th and Gareth Campbell 44th. Top three teams were England, on just eight points, followed by France and Italy on 18 and 36 points respectively.

Best of the Republic of Ireland team was Luke Maher in 33rd place, while inn the girls’ race Aoife Coffey finished 19th.

Earlier track results

Claire Mooney ran a time of 2:04.23 for second in the women’s A 800m at the BMC Gold Standard Races in Watford last Wednesday (June 13), while Blackrock’s Sarah Healy ran 2:06.30 for fifth in the same race.

Kieran Kelly of Raheny Shamrock finished 11th in 3:47.95 in the men’s A 1500m. In the B race, Eoin Pierce of Clonliffe Harriers was eighth in 3:50.07, Jonathan Whan of City of Lisburn 12th in a personal best 3:52.20 and Matt Bergin of DSD 13th in 3:54.68.

Olympic steeplechaser Sara Treacy of Dunboyne AC ran a season’s best 4:25.46 for sixth in the women’s A race. UCD’s Ellie Hartnett was eighth in 4:27.47.

Paul Byrne of St Abban’s finished third in the 400m hurdles in 51.32 at the Motonet GP Espoo in Finland last Wednesday (June 13). In the 110m hurdles, Ben Reynolds of North Down clocked 13.97 for second place behind local athlete Elmo Lakka in 13.72, while in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, Kerry O’Flaherty of Newcastle and District AC was sixth in 10:18.36.

Danny Mooney of Letterkenny AC was second in the men’s 1500m in a season’s best 3:45.63 at the BMC Gold Standard races in Stretford last Tuesday (June 12). Donore’s Eric Keogh was ninth in 3:51.56. In the women’s 800m, Joe Keane ran a season’s best 2:07.42.

Germany-based Sean Roth of Dundrum South Dublin set a new Irish U23 record of 5.10 for the pole vault at a meet in Soest, Germany on Sunday, June 10.

Irish mountain running international Sarah McCormack of Clonliffe Harriers returned to the track on June 10 to run a time of 16:46.47 at the Northern Athletics Championships in Sportcity, Manchester.

The post Athletes impress across Ireland and overseas – weekly round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

Two-time winner McCormack of Kilcoole AC pushed the pace in the opening lap of three before the Ethiopian Foyten Teskey moved to the front. In the end, Teskey, who is still a junior, had to settle for second place in the women’s 5.4km race behind Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi, with Bontu Edoa Rebitu, who runs in Bahrain colours, third.

English runner Verity Ockenden of Swansea was first European in fourth and Fionnuala Ross of Armagh AC, who ran for Ireland at last month’s European Championships, was best of the Northern Irish athletes in ninth place.

Kilcoole’s Una Britton was 10th, DSD veteran Maria McCambridge 13th and first W40, Junior athlete Siobhra O’Flaherty of St Laurence O Toole’s in Carlow, finished 16th ahead of Catherina Mullen of Metro St Brigid’s 17th, Laura Crowe of Riocht 18th and Irish champion Shona Heaslip, also Riocht, 19th.

Scotland finished first team ahead of Wales and Ireland, while Beechmount Harriers was the winning club team, with North Down a close second and Foyle Valley third.

Photo: Keith McClure

Best of the Irish in the men’s 7.2km race was Hugh Armstrong of Ballina AC who finished seventh. He was followed by Clonmel’s Kevin Maunsell ninth and Mark Hanrahan of Leevale AC tenth. Not far behind in 13th place was David Flynn of Clonliffe Harriers.

Best of the Northern Irish athletes was Neil Johnston 17th, followed by City of Derry’s Declan Reid who was 19th and first M40. Scotland was the first team ahead of Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The race had produced an epic finish when world 1500m silver medal winner Timothy Cheruiyot of Kenya edged out Mogos Tuemay of Ethiopia with both men given a time of 23 mins 12 secs.

World 3000m steeplechase runner-up Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco was third ahead of Antrim International regular Andy Vernon of England, who was running the race for the fifth time.

Jamie Battle of Mullingar Harriers won the U20 men’s race with Clonliffe’s Sean O’Leary second and Craig McMeechan best of the Northern Irish team in in 6th place.

Photo: Ryan Maxwell

Cian McPhillips won the M17 race and led the Irish to their only team victory of the day, with Scotland winning both U20 men and women’s races as well as the women’s U17 title.

Aimee Hayde came second in the women’s U17 race behind Scotland’s Cera Gemmell while Stephanie Cotter of West Muskerry AC was third of the Under 20 women. Ireland finished second team in both U17 and U20 races behind Scotland.

In the club race, Giffnock were the winner ahead of Lagan Valley, North Down and Clonliffe Harriers. Full results can be found here.

The post Fionnuala McCormack 6th and Hugh Armstrong 7th at Antrim International appeared first on Fast Running.

Sean Tobin 15th and Hugh Armstrong 19th, both aged 23, showed that a new generation of Irish distance running is coming to the fore, while demonstrating that the more mature athletes aren’t finished yet, Kevin Maunsell, aged 36, finished third scorer for the team in 24th place. All three were making their senior Irish debuts.

It meant that the Irish men ended up just two points behind France and within a whisker of a medal. The Turkish team beat Spain for the title by four points; Great Britain, led by bronze medal winner Andy Butchart, was third.

After the early scramble, the three Irish placers had run together with only six seconds separating them at the close.

“We weren’t too far off the medals – and just a point or two behind France,” said a buoyant Hugh Armstrong from Ballina AC after the race. “We’re a fairly young team with Kevin and John Travers so hopefully we’ll be back and maybe win a medal,” he added.

For Kevin Maunsell from Clonmel, making the team was a dream come true. “You couldn’t make it up. There was a great energy for the last two laps between us three – lots of toing and froing. It was great to be mixing it up with the Africans – the guys you see on the TV. I was loving it!”

Sean Tobin had returned from the USA especially for the race. “There were points when I was struggling and the boys would pull me along. We were constantly helping each other. If we can keep this group energy going and get groups training together, we can really take a step forward in Irish athletics,” said Tobin who, like Maunsell, is a member of Clonmel AC.

The Irish men’s scoring team (5th) l-r: Kevin Maunsell 24th, Hugh Armstrong 19th and Sean Tobin 15th #Samorin2017 pic.twitter.com/PHOgfw6Z9q

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) December 10, 2017

In the women’s 8km race, Fionnuala McCormack was making a record 15th appearance at the championships. She ran a typically gutsy race to finish 12th in a time of 27 minutes 48 seconds – exactly a minute behind the defending champion Yasemin Can, the Kenyan who runs in Turkish colours.

Failing to make the top 30 by only 11 seconds was Irish champion Shona Heaslip (recent interview with Fast Running can be found here), another 23-year old with a bright future.

She finished 34th – one place behind Meryem Akdag, who took a silver medal in Turkish colours last year and was briefly second behind Can in the early stages of the race. Like in the men’s race later on, age and experience told for Kerry O’Flaherty, who was the third counter for the Irish team finishing four seconds behind Heaslip in 38th place.

Showing how tight the competition was, only 19 seconds separated the next four Irish finishers – Michele Finn 40th in 28:29, Fionnuala Ross 47th in 28.53 and Lizzie Lee a second behind for 49th.

Irish Women’s team 7th #Samorin2017 pic.twitter.com/JyIk9jkyCW

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) December 10, 2017

The day had started well for the Irish when Sophie Murphy of Dundrum South Dublin AC finished a best-ever 10th in the women’s U20 race having placed 54th and 38th in the previous two years. “I just squeezed into the top ten, so I’m very happy. It was freezing out there but if you tucked into behind someone else, it was fine.”

The Irish team finished seventh, with Great Britain, led by individual winner Harriet Knowles Jones taking gold.

Finishing 22nd in the men’s U20 race was Fearghal Curtin with the team 10th. In the women’s Under 23 race, Bethanie Murray was 38th, while in the men’s U23 race, Eoin Struff of Raheny Shamrock was 49th and Tom O’Keeffe from North Down 60th.

Irish results

Senior Women: Yasemin Can (Turkey) 26.48… Irish: 12 Fionnuala McCormack (Kilcoole AC) 27.48, 34 Shona Heaslip (An Riocht) 28.31, 38 Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle and Dist) 38.35, 40 Michele Finn 9Leevale) 28.39, 47 Fionnuala Ross (Armagh AC) 28.53, 49 Lizzie Lee (Leevale) 28.54.
Teams – 1 Great Britain 23, 2 Romania 31, 3 Turkey 54 – 7 Ireland 84.

Senior Men: 1 Kaan Kigen Ozbilen (Turkey) 29.45 – Irish: 15 Sean Tobin (Clonmel AC) 30.43, 19 Hugh Armstrong (Ballina AC) 30.46, 24 Kevin Maunsell (Clonmel AC) 30.39, 48 Paul Pollock (Annadale Striders) 31.35, 51 Kevin Dooney (Raheny Shamrock) 31.30, 72 John Travers (Donore Harriers) 32. 50
Teams – 1 Turkey 17, 2 Spain 20, 3 Great Britain 35, 4 France 56 – 5 Ireland 58.

U23 Women: 1 Alina Reh (Germany) 20.22 – Irish: 38 Bethanie Murray (DSD) 22.15

U23 Men: 1 Jimmy Gressier (France) 23.35 – Irish: 49 Eoin Strutt (Raheny Shamrock) 25.43, 60 Tom O’Keeffe (Kilkenny City Harriers) 25.58.

U20 Women: 1 Harriet Knowles Jones (GB) 13.38… Irish 10 Sophie Murphy (DSD) 14.15, 27 Stephanie Cotter (West Muskerry) 14.35, 34 Jodie McCann (DSD) 14.43, 39 Laura Nicholson (Bandon AC) 14.47, 62 Fiona Everard (Bandon AC) 15.11, 72 Fian Sweeney (DCH) 14.22.
Teams – 1 Great Britain 21, 2 Italy 33, 3 Spain 47 – 7 Ireland 71.

U20 Men: 1 Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway) 18.29 – Irish: 22 Fearghal Curtin 19.08, 37 Craig McMeechan (North Down) 19.30, 38 James Edgar (City of Lisburn) 19.31, 39 Darragh McElhinney (Bantry AC) 19.32, 41 Charlie O’Donovan (Leevale) 19.34, 49 Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock) 19.42.
Teams – 1 Spain 20, 2 France 27, 3 Turkey 49 – 10 Ireland 97.

Irish road racing round-up

Clonliffe’s David Flynn was the winner of the Aware 10km in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Saturday, December 9. His time of 32 mins 19 secs saw him finish well over a minute clear of Karol Cronin from Sportsworld AC who crossed the line in 33:38. First woman was Ruth Kelly of Sportsworld in 40 mins 8 secs. A total of 827 finished the race. Full result can be found here.

Niall Sheil of St Killian’s AC won the Clonakilty Waterfront Half Marathon in 75 mins 5 secs. Ellen Hanley was first women in 91 mins 39 secs, with 748 finishers. Cathal O’Donnabhain in 34:36 and Carmel Crowley in 39.32 won the 10km race.

A total of 420 completed the marathon with Chris Greyson in 2:54.59 and Dolores Duffy of Watergrasshill AC in 3:14.35 the winners. Duffy was also first W50.

Stephen Hunter of St Aabban’s AC in Carlow won the inaugural Ballyroan 10-Mile in Co Laois. He finished in 55 mins 48 secs, with David Murray of Tullamroe Harrers second in 56:25 and Com Burke of St Abban’s third and first M50 on 56.35.

Finishing eleventh overall and first woman was former Irish international athlete Rosemary Ryan of Dooneen AC in 60:47. That was enough to beat Pauline Curley of Tullamore Harriers who was finishing in 61 mins 31 secs and AdeleA total of 214 completed the race. Full results www.popupraces.ie

In the Canary Islands, Irish national champion Gary O’Hanlon retained his title at the Lazerote Marathon, winning in in 2:27.20 – nine minutes clear of second placed Che Compton of Great Britain in 2:36.30. Brian Hegarty was third in 2:38.45. David O’Flaherty was third in the half marathon in 72:31.

Catch-up: Siofra Clerigh Buttner ran a time of 9:37.48 for third in the 3000m at the Jack Pyrah Invitational hosted by her college Villanova on Saturday, December 2. It was a first ever race over the distance for the Dublin athlete.

The post Sean Tobin leads Irish men to fifth at European Cross Country Championships appeared first on Fast Running.

Chasing podium regular Kevin Dooney all the way to the line in a battle for second, Armstrong in the red and white of Mayo club, Ballina A.C, surprised everyone outside of those who know him best.

The gritty performance saw him finish ahead of more known figures like John Travers and Stephen Scullion. His reward – a place on the Irish team and a first senior vest at the European Cross Country Championships in little under a week’s time.

“Winning a first international cap is an important step for me and I am very proud to represent my country at senior level,” he says. “It is a while since we have had a Mayo man on an Irish team, and that’s good because Connacht is often considered the weakest province in Ireland.”

The American influence

The unknown presence of Armstrong at the Irish Cross Country Championships can be attributed to his time away on an athletics scholarship in America at renowned Providence College, a well established breeding ground for Irish distance runners in recent history.

“Going to Providence in 2013 was a great decision for me and I have enjoyed every bit of my time there,” Armstrong says. “I’ve made steady improvements each year and it’s a really great program.

“I had a fantastic Irish coach, Ray Treacy and the environment is perfect to do well there,” he adds, attributing a lot of his development to time he spent under Treacy.

The signs were there

However, despite his rapid improvement on the other side of the Atlantic, the signs of his latent ability had been evident for a number of years. Like a lot of young athletes, Armstrong dabbled in a number of sports and began running with Ballina AC at U10 level.

“I didn’t train too seriously, or even get very good at running until I was much older,” he says. “However, in cross country, I won some Connacht medals with the club or county team when I was younger, but we were never competitive at all at the All-Ireland level.”

“When I was 15 or 16 I started to train and focus a bit more on running and made some improvements.”

He linked up with Sligo athletics coach Dermot McDermott and the results soon followed. Coach and all round athletics aficionado McDermott is a well-known figure on the Irish running scene with his innovative fastest feet programme and his success with young Irish athletes across a wide range of disciplines.

“When I joined up with Dermot I was training much harder. Now I had a purpose and a plan,” Armstrong says. “He really made me believe I could be great, and he brought me on to a new level, where I was winning medals at All-Irelands and looking to qualify for internationals.”

Opportunity comes knocking

Despite scant previous success on the national scene, things took a turn in 2013. At the beginning of that year at the National Junior Interclubs, Armstrong’s performance and the unexpected pressure he put on Clonmel’s Sean Tobin was the sign that the partnership with McDermott was really beginning to flourish.

He walked away with silver that day, and now four years later, himself and Tobin will make their Irish senior debuts together on December 10 in Samorin, Slovakia.

This was backed up by another gutsy silver medal at the Irish Schools in Jordanstown in March. The real breakthrough came that summer when he qualified for the European Junior Championships over 10k. From that, Armstrong gained valuable international experience and attracted attention at home and abroad.

“Going to America, was not something I ever really thought about during secondary school, he says. “I didn’t have fast enough track times to receive offers from any American colleges, but Dermot had made contact with Providence, and I was offered a scholarship there very late, based on some good performance over cross country.”

Ocean State, 2018 and beyond

Despite finishing up his undergraduate studies in Providence in May, Armstrong has chosen to remain based in Rhode Island. It’s a place he views like home and now competes for post-collegiate club Ocean State AC, still under the guidance of Treacy, while undertaking a masters course.

“It’s a very good group,” he explains. “We have a club team amongst ourselves and get some support from New Balance. I train mostly with Julian Oakley, Shane Quinn, Trevor Crawley, and Jordan Mann, all of us graduated from Providence College over the last few years. It is a quality group, most of them have PBs faster than me.”

One of the names Armstrong mentioned Shane Quinn, from Ferrybank AC in Waterford, is another Irish athlete who has successfully passed through the NCAA system.

So far the set-up of being surrounded by a “quality group” of athletes has worked a treat for the young Mayo man. During the daily grind and hard sessions, this is something that is imperative for any distance runner at that level to succeed.

Looking to the foreseeable future, Armstrong hopes to continue to challenge for senior berths both in cross country and track and wants “to be consistently good”.

With personal best just outside 14 minutes for 5k, 29 mins for 10k, and a debut 66:57 half marathon – his work ethic and no-nonsense attitude will surely see him break through these times soon.

The post Hugh Armstrong: flying the flag for Connacht appeared first on Fast Running.