Hiko Tonosa of Dundrum South Dublin followed up his victory in last weekend’s National 10km with victory at the Streets of Kilkenny 5k last Thursday (April 18).

With a course record bonus of €500 on offer, Tonosa, along with Eric Hayes of Donore Harriers and Thomas Hayes of Kilkenny City Harriers pushed the pace from the start.

Only in the closing stages of the race did the Ethiopian-born Tonosa break away to win in a course record time of 14:15. Keogh was just five seconds behind in 14:20, with Hayes third in 14:35.

Even closer was the women’s race with 12 seconds separating the top four. Leevale’s Sinead O’Connor won in 16:47 with Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisokane AC just one second behind for second.

Photo: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Third was Mary Mulhare of Portlaoise AC in 16:52, and fourth Linda Byrne of DSD AC in 16:59.

Close to 800 completed the race, which was the second round of the Kia Race Series, which includes a master’s category this year. Finishing first M40 and sixth overall in 15:42 was Paul Fleming of Rathfarnham WSAF AC, with Ian McGrath of Sli Cualann two places behind in 15:47. First W40 was Caroline Donnellan of Edenderry AC in 18:07.

Sean Doran of Clonliffe Harriers was the winner of the Streets of Naas 5k held on Easter Sunday (April 21).

Doran finished in 16:12 with Aindriu Ó Comhraidhe of St Michael’s second in 16:27. Michelle Cox of Newbridge AC was first woman in 19:23.

Winner of the Faugheen 5k, the opening round of the annual Outfield Sports Carrick AC race series, on Friday (April 19) were David Mansfield Clonmel AC in a time of 15:11 and Angela Mc Cann, also Clonmel AC, in 18:15.

Mark McKinstry of North Belfast Harriers was the winners of Bay Road 5k in Derry with a time of 14:49 on Wednesday (April 17). Danny Mooney of Letterkenny AC was second in 15:02 with Eoghan McGinley, also Letterkenny, third in 15:07.

First woman was Rachel Gibson of North Down AC in 17:37. Ciara Toner of Springwell RC was second in 17:44 and Kerry Bamber of Ballymena Runners third in 18:01.

Track and field

Irish international athlete Ryan Forsyth of Newcastle AC knocked over three seconds off his best when he ran 13:38.01 in an invitational 5000m Stanford Cardinal Classic in Palo Alto, California on Friday (April 19).

Forsyth, a student at the University of Colorado and the current Irish 5000m champion, finished fifth in the race, won by Grant Fisher of Stanford in 13:19.52. Last December, he proved best of the Irish in the U23 men’s race at the European Cross Country Championships in Tilburg, Denmark, when he finished fourth.

Photo: Andy Peat

Also in California, at the Bryan Clay meet in Azura on Thursday (April 18), Fearghal Curtin of Youghal AC ran a time of 13:53.53 in the 5000m. Over the same distance, Barry Keane of Waterford AC clocked 14:04.79 and Jack O’Leary of Mullingar Harriers 14:11.96.

A number of other Irish athletes were in action at the meet, with Rob Tully of Star of the Sea AC running 1:48.92 for 800m – the fastest time by an Irish athlete so far this season – and Paddy Robb of St Malachy’s in 3:49.07 for 1500m.

Of the women, multi-eventer Grace McKenzie of Belgooly AC ran 24.97 for 200m and 2:11.21 in the 800m, as well as improving her shot putt best to 11.30 and competing in the javelin. Roisin Flanagan of Omagh Harriers ran a personal best 4:16.42 for 1500m; twin sister Eilish recorded a personal best 16:00.98 in the 5000m.

In Baton Rouge on Saturday (April 20); Brian Flanagan of Clonliffe Harriers won a steeplechase in a personal best time of 9:06.16. This run propels McNeese University’s Flanagan well into the Clonliffe top 10 and also moved him up into third place in the Southland Conference.

“I was very pleased to get a great run in today,” said Flanagan on the McNeese website. “It was a huge boost for me mentally after struggling all fall, even missing the cross-country season due to injury.

“I was taught by an old Irish coach that distance running is 49% what you have in your legs and 51% what’s in your head. This spring, I knew I’d built up the adequate fitness to match and even beat rivals.

“But with this new PR today, it has given me the confidence in myself that my best days are most definitely still in front of me going into the conference meet in two weeks. It’s a great day to be a Cowboy!”

Also on Saturday, Roisin Flanagan ran 2:08.34 for 800m at the Beach International in Long Beach, California.

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The post Hiko Tonosa and Sinead O’Connor among Easter winners on Irish roads appeared first on Fast Running.

Finishing a strong fourth in the under-23 men’s race, Ryan Forsyth was the top performing Irish athlete in the morning racing at the European Cross Country Championships in Tilburg on Sunday (December 9).

The Newcastle AC athlete, who grew up in America with his mother from Northern Ireland, took the race out from the gun and led the mass start before finding himself in a battle for the final medal position.

In the end, France’s Hugo Hay won the contest for bronze with Irish debutant Forsyth finishing just one second off.

Defending champion Jimmy Gressier successfully retained his title ahead of Germany’s Samual Fitwi and led France to team gold ahead of Great Britain and Spain.

Gressier did have an awkward finish though as he attempted to slide across the finish line with two French flags in hands.

How not to finish a cross country race. #Tilburg2018 pic.twitter.com/2kJ3I6WOFb

— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) December 9, 2018

The Irish team finishing sixth overall led by Forsyth in fourth, Brian Fay 29th, Paul O’Donnell 36th, Cathal Doyle 51st, Jack O’Leary 56th and Garry Campbell 80th.

“I like to race aggressively,” said Forsyth, who finished 11th last month at the NCAA Championships. “I believe I should be up there and so should the team. It’s an honour to wear the vest.”

The under-20 women’s race was the first event of the day over the testing Tilburg course, with Ireland’s Emma O’Brien and Sarah Healy claiming top 10 places, while the team finished sixth overall.

Photo: Andy Peat

Healy, the European U18 1500m and 3000m champion, had been pipped as the favourite by many, but a fall at the halfway point severely hampered any medal hopes for the youngster.

The Blackrock athlete will surely learn from the experience ahead of another two years at this level.

Bad news for one of the favourites.

European U18 1500m and 3000m champion Sarah Healy took a tumble in the U20 women's race. #Tilburg2018 pic.twitter.com/FJKRR7IIFH

— European Athletics (@EuroAthletics) December 9, 2018

O’Brien finished eighth ahead of Healy in ninth, while Stephanie Cotter was the next counting athlete in 25th. Completing the team was Jodie McCann in 35th, Sophie O’Sullivan in 59th and Laura Nicholson in 60th.

Ireland’s under-20 men finished a strong fifth with Darragh McElhinney first across the finish line in 16th place.

Sean O’Leary was 18th ahead of Jamie Battle in 21st, Michael Power in 60th, Fintan Stewart in 75th and Daire Finn completed the team in 86th.

Ireland’s under-23 women’s team finished ninth overall with Eilish Flanagan and Aoibhe Richardson securing top 25 places in 16th and 25th respectively.

Roisin Flanagan was next in 41st ahead of Fian Sweeney in 43rd, while Siobhra O’Flaherty finished 54th and Sorcha McAllister was 66th.

In the senior races, Sean Tobin finished a strong 10th in the men’s event, while Sara Treacy was the first Irish woman in 26th place. A full report from the senior races can be found here.

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The post Ireland’s Ryan Forsyth fourth in U23 men’s race at Euro Cross appeared first on Fast Running.