In the short and unusual summer season of 2020, McCormack was making good on all the training from the first half of her year. Even as early as February the Irish athlete took the win at the Montserrat Sky race and then in the summer had multiple wins and strong performances in Italy.

A sixth in the elite only Sierre Zinal event in September was followed up by a fine win at the Trofeo Nasego in Italy, which had doubled up as an Italian Championships, and a late season trip to the Golden Trail Championships in the Azores.

The 2019 World Mountain Running Series champ has represented Ireland at the uphill only and up and down mountain running champs and this year will be looking at more local fell running events near her home in the Lake District, as well as mountain running events in Europe again.

Profile

Name: Sarah McCormack
Age: 34
Hometown: Windermere, Cumbria, UK
Club: Ambleside AC
Main discipline: fell/mountain running
Other disciplines: a very small amount of flatter running (track, xc, road)
Job: Running coach

Goals or targets for 2021: local fell races, possibly Mountain Running World Cup, Mountain Running World/European Championships

Past Running highlights

Travelling anywhere to race is always a highlight; some notable races have been Montserrat Skyrace, Mallorca 5000 skyrace, Snowdon, Fletta Trail, Dreizinnen, Grossglockner, Smarna Gora, Vertical Fenis, Trofeo Vanoni, Trofeo Nasego, Lagunc VK, Mountain Running world champs in Argentina

Interesting or fun fact: I have a lucky empty gel packet in my racing shorts, it actually isn’t very lucky but taking it out might still be a bad idea

I run because… I love spending time in the mountains and I feel best when I have a goal to work towards

At the European Mountain Running uphill Champs in Zermatt, Switzerland. Photo: Robbie Britton

Favourites

Favourite training session uphill tempo run
Least favourite training session 800m reps are always a no from me
Favourite pre-race food porridge
Favourite post-race food ice cream
Favourite running shoes inov8 xtalon ultras
Brands or organisations that support me inov8, suunto, vaga

The post Fast10: Sarah McCormack appeared first on Fast Running.

Irish mountain running international Sarah McCormack ended her season with a new course record for her leg in women’s race at the Trofeo Vanoni in Morbegno, Italy on Sunday (October 25).

In the women’s relay for teams of two, McCormack teamed up with Wexford athlete Dena Hogan and clocked a superb time of 21 mins 07 secs in difficult conditions. The previous record was 21 mins 14 secs, held by former European Mountain running champ Emmie Collinge.

“I was delighted to manage to get the course record at one of my favourite races,” said the Irish international. “The event has a great history behind it and the people live and breath mountain running here so it was a really satisfying record to break.”

Following on Hogan finished in 25:51 and the Irish pair finished a respectable sixth.

Zak Hanna on one of his other highly successful outings in Italy this year. Photo: PizTri Vertikal

In the men’s relay for teams of three, Zak Hanna helped a Great Britain and Ireland team to fifth place, running the second leg in in 30 mins 42 secs – a faster time than in 2019 when Hanna ran a time of 31:04 and the team finished sixth – Zak’s time 31:04. Also of the team this year were Andrew Douglas and Ben Mounsey.

An Irish team of Ian Conroy, Alex Hunter and Tom Hogan finished 36^th of the 148 teams entered.

Hughes pushing world boundaries on the road again

Tommy Hughes of Strive AC sent a new men’s over 60 marathon record when he defied the windy weather to run a time of 2:30.01 in Lisburn on Sunday (October 25). The previous record was 2:36.30.

Last October, Hughes set a world over 55 record of 2:27.52 just three months before his 60^th birthday in January. In September, he set a world over 60 half record of 70:09 in Larne, Co Antrim.

Track running down under

Australia-based Kevin Batt who ran with Dundrum South Dublin AC when he lived in Ireland, clocked a personal best time of 29 mins 27.87 to finish fifth in the Bankstown 10,000m championships held in wet conditions at The Crest, Sydney on Saturday (October 24).

In 2015, Batt finished 16^th in the 5000m when representing Ireland at the 2016 European Championships

Cross country across the pond

Catch-up: at the Colorado Mesa Maverick Invitational at Lincoln Park Grand Junction on October 10, Stephanie Cotter of West Muskerry AC finished third in the women’s 5000m, helping her Adams State team to victory.

Cotter was NCCA division athlete of the year last season and took team bronze in the U23 race at the European cross country last December.

Want to run faster? For just £30 per month athletes are provided with a Final Surge plan for each day of the week, coaching advice from Robbie Britton and Tom Craggs, as well as access to the unique Fast Running Performance community.

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The post Record breaking McCormack excels in the mountains appeared first on Fast Running.

Yared Derese of Carrick Aces was a comfortable winner of the Trim 10-Mile in Co Meath on Sunday (February 2). By halfway, which he reached in 23 mins 32 secs , Derese had built up a minute’s lead and he went on to win the race in 48 mins 1 sec, with Eric Keogh of Donore Harriers, the only other athlete to break 50 minutes, second in 49:29.

Hugh Armstrong of Ballina AC was third in 50:22 and former Olympic race walker Colin Griffin of Ballinamore AC fourth in 51:56.

First woman was Ciara Durkan of Skerries AC in 59:16. Isabel Oakes was second in 60:48 and Caroline Donnelly of Edenderry AC third and first W40 in 60:53.

In Co Waterford, Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock AC was the winner of the John Treacy Dungarvan 10-Mile in 48 mins 16 secs.

Kevin Maunsell of Clonmel AC was second in 48:30 and Conor Duffy of Glaslough Harriers third in 50:07. Alan O’Shea of Bantry AC was fifth and first M40 in 51:02. Dublin visitors Crusaders AC were first of the 25 teams, beating East Cork AC and St Finbarr’s AC.

First woman in 54 mins 23 secs was Irish marathon champion Aoife Cooke of Eagle AC. Sarah McMahon of Dundrum South Dublin AC was second in 59:16 and Fiona Santry of East Cork AC third in 60:18. Fourth and first W45 was Angela McCann of Clonmel AC. Cooke’s aunt, the great Mary Sweeney of St Finbarr’s AC, finished third W55.

Eagle AC proved best of a massive women’s team entry of 43; Watergrasshill AC and Clonmel AC finished second and third.

Dublin Track Club in action.

Another sizzler from Coscoran

After his sub-four minute indoor mile a week earlier, Andrew Coscoran, of the Star of the Sea club in Co Meath, continued his recent streak of good form with a personal best 3:37.98 for 1500m at the Boston University Scarlet and White Invite on Saturday (February 1). Dublin Track Club athlete Coscoran finished third in the race, with Josh Thompson the winner in 3:37.21.

In Vienna on Saturday (February 1), Phil Healy of Bandon AC finished second in both the 200m and 400m in times of 23.46 and 52.65 secs.

Meanwhile in Melbourne a week earlier, Sean Tobin of Clonmel AC and Michelle Finn of Leevale AC won the 3000m races at the Box Hill Classic in times of 7 mins 59 secs and 9 mins 6 secs respectively.

Cross country

Sean Horan of Harrier Products was the winner of the Garda BHAA open four mile cross-country in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Saturday (February 1).

Doran’s time of 22 mins 18 secs saw him finish ahead of George Snee from Fidelity Instruments in 22:24 and Ross Hurley in 22:28. In the graded team categories, Bank of Ireland won both A and B, and finished second in C behind ESB. Revenue teams finished first and second in grade D.

A clear winner of the women’s two-mile race in 12 mins 38 secs was Laura Buckley, with her Teachers team mate Eva McNelis second in 13:21 and Claire Ní Fhaircheallagh third and first W35 in 13:36. With Ashling Smith finishing ninth, the Teachers finished first team ahead of Health A and HSE. The race, part of the Lord Mayor Series, had a massive 332 finishers.

Some women opted for the longer distance race with Rachel Yorke of Deloitte the best of the bunch. Next BHAA race is the ALSAA cross-country at Dublin Airport on Saturday February 15.

At the first Irwin Speirs Memorial Cup cross-country held at MUSA, Cookstown on Saturday (February 1), host club Acorns AC dominated with Vincent McKenna not only wining the men’s 4-mile race, but leading Acorns AC to team victory.

Gemma Whitehouse made it an Acorns AC double when she won the women’s 3-mile race; team winners were Victoria Park and Coniston AC.

The races were held in memory of the late Irwin Speirs, a highly respected masters’ athlete and coach of Acorns AC who died suddenly last December.

Irish action in Scotland

Finishing third in the men’s long race at the BUCS Cross-Country Championships in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park on Saturday (February 1) was Jayme Rossiter of Clonliffe Harriers representing Aston University.

In the women’s short race, Louise Shanahan of Leevale AC, a PhD student in physics at Cambridge University, finished fifth. Shanahan, a track specialist, competed at the European U23 Championships in Sweden last summer.

At the Fox Trail winter series in East Lothian it was Irish ultra runner Nicola Duncan who victorious over the half marathon distance event.  The muddy trail race saw Ian Logan of Linlithgow AC the men’s winner in 1:26:36 and Duncan ran 1:35:39, whilst training for her first ultra race of the season at the Madeira Ultra Trail. Follow the speedster’s preparation in the Fast10 blogs.

Montserrat Sky Race

In the mountains outside Barcelona, Spain, last year’s IMRA World Cup Winner was getting her season into action. Sarah McCormack won the women’s race with a strong performance and it was actually a Yorkshire 1-2-3 on the men’s podium. We’re exited to see how well McCormack runs again in 2020, seemingly going from strength to strength every year.

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The post Fast 10 milers the flavour of the week – Irish round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

There are three events taking place: the junior and senior World Championship races on Friday 15th and the World Long Distance race on Saturday 16th . The courses are based around the K42  Adventure Marathon course and take in some stunning highlights of the Province of Neuquen in Patagonia.

The juniors will race over a route of 6.6k with 393 metres of ascent. The course will initially take them north into the forest with a steep and technical climb. When it reaches the highest point of the race (1246 metres) the runners turn south and begin a steep descent. They will then have to contend with a stream crossing (with ropes), before a fast, runnable descent on a wide path all the way down to the finish.

The seniors World Mountain Running Championships will take place over a 14k course with 754 metres of ascent. They will start in the streets of Villa La Angostura and head north along a dirt track and into the forest. The first 2.5k are quite flat, but then it starts to climb up through the forest and becomes steep and technical. This is followed by a section of technical descent, before the runners head to the Inacayal Waterfall, then start to descend again on a faster path. This takes them down to the street which heads to the finish line.

World Longs

The World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships takes place the next day and the course is 41.5k with 2,184m of ascent. Again, it starts in the streets of Villa La Angostura and then starts a climb on forest tracks. It climbs steadily until around 7k, then there’s a long, fast descent.

The middle section is generally flatter, but with some technical sections and a creek crossing, then the big climb begins just after 20k. This long climb will take the runners up to the summit of Cerro Bayo at 1785 metres, where they will be in snow. They will then begin a long and fast descent, mainly on dirt tracks, back down to Villa La Angostura.

Countries who will take part include the USA, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, France and Spain, who have all featured heavily in this year’s World Cup. So competition will be fierce. 

The courses look fantastic and varied and should test any runner. The championships are going to be really exciting and we look forward to bringing you all the news as it happens live from Patagonia. Follow our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for updates.

Photo: Robbie Britton

Women’s senior race

The 2019 World Cup winner, Sarah McCormack, will be running for Ireland. After a very successful season, where she won the Snowdon Race and was second at the MaXi Race, Drei Zinnen and Smarna Gora, she must be one of the favourites. She will face strong competition from many women.

Firstly, the World Cup winner from 2017 and 2018 (second this year), Lucy Murigi, proved that she will be a contender, winning Smarna Gora a few weeks ago in a thrilling race with McCormack. The Kenyan team will not feature at the Champs.

Sarah Tunstall of GB will also be a strong contender, having finished third in the world championships in 2017 and having won Grossglockner and Drei Zinnen this year and finished fourth at the European Championships earlier this year. Her compatriot Emmie Collinge must also be one to watch. She was second in the world championships in 2015 and won the European Mountain Running Championships the following year.

Other women to watch include Italy’s Elisa Sortini and Alice Gaggi, France’s Elise Poncet and Grayson Murphy. Collegiate stand-out Murphy is an excellent road runner who has recently returned to the trails and was the clear winner of the US trial. Her excellent leg speed could be a huge factor in the mountain race.

Photo: Alex Donald

Men’s senior race

The men’s World Cup winner, Andrew Douglas, will also be in Villa La Angostura, and will be among the favourites, having had an incredible 2019 season. Joe Gray won the US trials and as 2016 world champion and 17-time national champion, he must also be one to watch.

GB’s Jacob Adkin, this year’s European Champion, is a favourite to be up there. Watch out for young Adkin starting sensibly and finishing with his trademark blazing strength. Anyone new to the champs could well learn from Jacob, as if you’re ahead of him in the first few kilometres and not expecting to podium, then you’re going too fast.

The Italian team is strong as ever with Xavier Chevrier, Luca Cagnati and Casare Maestri among others who could well feature in the top 10. Fast Running’s man in Italy, Francesco Nicola, believes his team can challenge for the gold medal and we think he’s right.

The French team is a very experienced one with Julien Rancon and Alexandre Fine. The Kenyan team contains Robert Panin Surum and Timothy Kimutai Kirui, who, as ever, could very well feature or not trouble the front at all. It seems the latter was correct as the Kenyan team will not feature.

Ireland’s Zak Hannah, who finished sixth in the World Cup this year, will also be a strong competitor, and will be looking to build on his strong top 20 position from the European Championships earlier this year, as will Slovenia’s Timotej Becan, who finished fifth in the Mountain Running World Cup.

Other runners to watch include Hans-Peter Innerhofer of Austria and any number of strong Czech, German and South American athletes.

Women’s long distance race

Over the longer distance the women’s race should also be really exciting. One of the most interesting athletes to watch will be Laura Dahlmeier of Germany, who has famously swapped an incredibly successful career as a biathlete for mountain running.

France’s Blandin L’hirondel won this year’s Trail World Championships, so it will be interesting to see how that translates to mountain running. Judith Wyder of Switzerland should also be up at the front, having had a hugely successful season in Skyrunning.

Her compatriot Maude Mathys will also be a strong contender [Although we should add that the Swiss mountain running star has previously been reprimanded for anti-doping rules violations – Editor].

Spain are fielding a very strong team, with Sheila Aviles (who was 3rd at this year’s Trail World Championships) and Azara Garcia de los Salmones (4th at the Trail World Championships, 2nd at this year’s OCC), among others expected to feature.

Ireland’s Nicola Duncan will be relishing the fast, runnable climbing and could well feature well this weekend. The ultra distance athlete has been racing well in recent weeks over the trails and has been focusing on this event for the Autumn.

Several runner to watch include Italy’s Sylvia Rampazzo and GB’s Charlotte Morgan, both former champions, Adeline Roche of France, who’s best performance to date remains her 2017 World Trail Champs win and Kellie Emmerson of Australia, who is more of a longer distance specialist but could surprise many in the final kilometres.

Men’s long distance race

The men’s long distance race has had a couple of big names pull out – Luis Alberto Hernando of Spain and GB’s Tom Evans [although as Evans was strong enough to finish third in the Milton Keynes Cross last weekend it is disappointing to hear he won’t be representing his country – Editor]  – but it still has plenty of incredible athletes.

The 2019 World Trail Champion Jonathan Albon from GB will be among the favourites, as will Italy’s Francesco Puppi. But it’s perhaps the US team which has aroused the most interest. Jim Walmsley, Hayden Hawks and Mario Mendoza are strongly expected to feature in the race.

Hayden Hawks especially has some of the best leg speed in the event with a 13:54 5k PB and great experience over the longer ultra distance events. The show down between Hawks and Walmsley could make for real entertaining watching, but Fast Running is backing Hawks to come out on top in the US battle, but the fierce competition could put the team atop the podium if Mendoza runs well.

Other runners to watch include Switzerland’s Stephan Wenk, and France’s Nicolas Martin, both excellent on the trails and over ultra distance so look for strong finishes.

Ireland’s Paddy O’Leary and Gavin Byrne both broke the Wicklow Round record in 2019 and O’Leary has been in South America for a number of weeks preparing for the race… or just on an extended holiday with some races. We’re not sure. Look for both to run well in their national vests after great seasons so far.

Junior races

The junior races will be hotly contested and the future of mountain running is looking very bright. Among the runners are the British junior Joe Dugdale, who won this year’s European championships, and Joslin Blair of the US, who won the 2018 WMRA International U18 Mountain Running Championships.

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The post Strong British & Irish athletes at WMRA Champs appeared first on Fast Running.

In Chicago, Fionnuala McCormack finished 5^th woman in 2 hrs 26 mins 47 secs, knocking almost four minutes off her previous best of 2:30.38 run in Boston earlier this year. That time is comfortably inside the Tokyo 2020 qualifying standard of 2:29:30 and means that McCormack, now aged 35, is on target to compete at her fourth Olympic Games next summer.

It also puts her third on the all-time list of Irish-born athletes led by Catherina McKiernan whose Irish record of 2:22.23 dates back 21 years to Amsterdam in 1998. Second on the list is Mayo-born Sinead Diver who ran a time of 2:24.11 in London last April; Diver runs for Australia. Only four Irish women have ever gone under 2 hrs 30 mins for the marathon.

Photo: Robbie Britton

Irish success in the mountains

At the final World Cup race on the Smarna Gora in Slovenia, Sarah McCormack finished second behind defending champion Lucy Murigi from Kenya with less than a minute in it.

McCormack, who is based at Ambleside in the Lake District, had already done enough to lift the World Cup trophy after a super consistent season, where she ran six of the seven World Cup races. She finished second at the opening round in Annecy and at the Drei Zinnen in Italy as well as in Slovenia and took a big win at Snowdon, a race she had won twice before. She also picked up good points for a fourth at the savagely steep Grossglockner in Austria and for 13^th in the 31km Sierre-Zinal in Switzerland.

In the men’s race, Zak Hanna of Newcastle AC finished ninth which put him 5^th overall in the World Cup rankings. He made the top ten in the four races he ran, with his best result coming at Snowdon where he finished fourth.

Both athletes will represent Ireland at the World Mountain Running Championships taking place in Villa La Angostura, Patagonia, Argentina at the end of next month.

Photo: Kirsten Kortebein

Trail running overseas

Nicole Duncan, building up towards the World Mountain Running Long Distance Championships in Patagonia the November, was the comfortable winner at the Pentland Skyline race in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Running for the race organisers Carnethy RC, the former road marathoner clocked 3:10:51 to win the 26.6km race with 1890m of climbing. Tom Owens, running for Shettleston Harriers, was the men’s winner in 2:25:29.

US-based ultra trail runner Paddy O’Leary, who started a trio of Wicklow Round records earlier this year, was the winner of the THF Endurance Challenge Chile 50km. Also building up towards the World Longs in Argentina this November, the 2:20 marathoner is travelling and adventuring in South America before the champs and looks in fine form.

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.

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 A good weekend to be called McCormack – Irish weekend round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

Flynn, whose big target this autumn is the Dublin Marathon, has recently returned from warm-weather training in Morocco.
His time beat Martin Fagan’s course best of 63:58 set in 2014 and put him comfortably clear of Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock who finished in a personal best 64 mins 16 secs – the third fastest time for the course. Finishing third was Hugh Armstrong of Ballina AC in 64 mins 29 secs, which was another personal best.

Behind the top three, Freddy Sittuk of Raheny Shamrock finished in 68.30, Tim O’Donoghue of East Cork in 68:31 and Sean Hehir, currently unattached, in 68:41. With three athletes under 65 minutes and eleven under 70 minutes, this was a quality race.

First woman in a lifetime best of 74 mins 41 secs was Aoife Cooke, club coach with Ballymore Cobh AC and in the form of her life. A niece of the distance running pioneer Mary Sweeney from St Finbarr’s AC, Cooke had quit athletics after a few years in Arkansas on an athletics scholarship.

After returning to the sport, and coached by her aunt, she won the National Novice Cross-Country title in 2015 and then the National Intermediate title in 2017. Earlier this year, she moved up a level, running a superb time of 55 mins 17 secs at the Mallow 10-mile.

Finishing well behind her in Charleville was Una Britton of Kilcoole AC in 80:10 with Jill Hodgins of Leevale AC third and first W40 in 82:04. Fastest women’s time for the course is 73 mins 5 secs, run by Maria McCambridge of Dundrum South Dublin AC in 2012 – the inaugural year of this race, which is undoubtedly the fastest half marathon in the country.

A special finish line view in Italy

A second place at the Drei-Zinnenlauf mountain racing classic in the Italian Dolomites on Saturday (September 14) means that Irish international athlete Sarah McCormack is certain to be crowned women’s champion after the final race at Smarna Gora in Slovenia on October 12.

Photo: Marco Gulberti/WMRA

McCormack completed the 17.5km run with a savage 1,350m of climb to finish in 1 hr 46 mins 20 secs. Race winner in 1:41.44. was British athlete Sarah Tunstall who had also won the Grossglockner round earlier in the season. However her two wins are trumped by a win, two seconds, a fourth and a 13th for the ultra consistent McCormack. The Lake District-based athlete finished third in the World Cup last season.
On a good day for the Irish, Zak Hanna of Newcastle AC finished seventh of 486 men in 1:29.19, while Killian Mooney of Dundrum South Dublin AC was 26th in 1:43.17.

Back on the roads of Ireland

Yared Derese of Carrick Aces proved the class of the field at the Dromiskin 5km in Co Louth on Saturday (September 14).
His time of 14 mins 23 secs putting him almost two minutes ahead of the chasers led by Jack Boylan of Dunleer AC in 16:12. First woman was former Irish marathon champion Laura Graham of Mourne Runners in 17:28. North East Runners won both men’s and women’s team races.

Ciaran McKenna of Star of the Sea AC was the winner of the Ratoath Half Marathon, also on Saturday, in 68 mins 38 secs. Second in 69:48 was Mark Ryan of Rathfarnham WSAF AC, while third in 70:34 was Sean Doran of Clonliffe Harriers. First woman in 81:11 was Niamh Clifford from Star of the Laune AC. Dunleer’s Karen Costello was second in 85:11 and Sabrina Keogh of Dunboyne AC third in 87:06. Fourth and first W50 was Rose Lambe of Carrick Aces in 89.10. A total of 821 completed the race.

Gideon Kimosop of 1ZERo1 was a comfortable winner of the Westport 40 10km in Co Mayo on Saturday in 30 mins 21 secs. Paul O’Donnell of Dundrum South Dublin AC was second in 31:42 and Conor McCaughey of North Belfast Harriers third in 32.01. Laura Shaughnessy of Galway City Harriers was first woman in 35:48 with Teresa Doherty of Finn Vally AC second in 36:46 and Regina Casey of Galway City Harriers third in 37:07. Mayo AC, led by Norah Pieterse in fifth place, was first of the women’s teams, with Ennis Track first of the men led by Rory Chesser in fourth place.

In Co Waterford, Pat Hennessey of host club West Waterford AC was the winner of the scenic Greenway Half Marathon on Saturday in 70 mins 20 secs. Philip Harty of Ferrybank AC was second in 72:48 and Ravis Zakis of West Waterford AC third in 73.54. First woman in 87:58 was Liz Nyhan of West Waterford in 88.01.

Outright win for O’Connor

Aisling O’Connor of Edenderry AC added her name to the exclusive list of women who have finished outright winners of a race when she came home first overall at the Mediaeval Marathon in Kilkenny on Saturday. Her time of 2:55.28 put her over a minute clear ahead of Enda Cloake who finished first man in 2:56.43.

Also on Saturday Mick Kelly of St Abban’s won the Street of Carlow 5km in 16 mins 44 secs. Second was Simon McElwee in 17:28, while first woman was Bronwen McDonald of St LOT AC in 19:20.

Daire Finn, and Donore’s Maura Kearns were the winners of the St Brigid’s 5km in Castleknock Co Dublin on Sunday (Sept 15).
Finn finished in 15 mins 44 secs, with Alasdair Brown of Donore Harriers second in 17:43 and Paul Whitty of St Brigid’s GAA third in 18:27. Kearns finished sixth overall in 18:54. Sharon Kavanagh and Ruth Fitzsimons, both juvenile members of St Brigid’s GAA, were second and third.

Track and Field

Marcus Lawler of St LOT AC, who was the only Irish athlete selected for the Team Europe V USA match in Minsk (9-10 September) finished eighth in the 200m with a time of 21.14; Ramil Guliyev of Turkey was the race winner in 20.16. European won the match with 724.50 points to 601.50 for the USA.

Added to the team for the World Championships in Doha last week were Phil Healy of Bandon AC 200m, and Leevale’s Michelle Finn for the steeplechase. Already selected are Thomas Barr of Ferrybank AC 400m hurdles, Ciara Mageean of City of Lisburn AC 1500m, Brendan Boyce of Finn Valley AC 50km walk, Alex Wright of Leevale AC 20km walk, and Stephen Scullion of Clonliffe Harriers marathon.

Masters Athletics

Annette Kealy and Paul Moran added two more gold medals to the Irish haul on the final day of the European Masters Championships in Venice.

Kealy of Raheny Shamrock AC won the W50 10km in 37 mins 34 with Cathryn Brady of Dundrum South Dublin AC finishing third in 42:15. It was a second medal for Kealy who had won the 5000m on the track earlier in the week.

In the half marathon, Paul Moran of Rathfarnham WSAF won the M55 title in 77:20.

There was silver for Pauline Moran of Mayo AC who finished second in the W60 10km in 42.26, while the W60 team of Noreen Bonner, Donna Evans and Nuala Reilly, backed up by Gloria Donaghy and Julia Galea took bronze.

A day earlier, Ross Alexander finished second in the M35 20km walk, while the W35 team took silver in the 4x100m.

Ireland ended up 15th on the medals table with 10 gold, 10 silver and six bronze medals. A total of 35 countries won at least one medal.

Ireland’s gold medal winners were Kevin Lynch of Lios Tuathail AC in the M45 400m, Denise Toner of Clones AC in the W40 800m, Joe Gough of West Waterford AC in the M65 800 and 1500m, Brian Lynch of North east Runners in the M65 cross-country and 5000m, Annette Kealy of Raheny Shamrock in the W50 5000m and 10km, Maurice McMahon of Ardee and District AC in the M45 cross-country and Patrick Malone in the M55 cross-country.

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.

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 Fast HM times at Charleville Half – Irish Round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

Early leaders beaten to the line at South Dublin 10km

Paul Pollock of Annadale Striders was the winner of a competitive men’s race at the South Dublin 10km in Clondalkin, Dublin on Sunday (July 21).

Pollock pulled away in the second half of the race to win in a time of 29:28. Finishing second in 29:44 was early leader Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock, with Hiko Tonosa of Dundrum South Dublin AC third in 30:03.

Finishing fourth and first M35 in 30:31 was Mark Kenneally of Clonliffe Harriers, while fifth in 31:05 was Peter Somba of Dunboyne AC. Tommy Hughes of Termoneeny RC continued his astounding current streak by finishing ninth overall, third master and first M55 in 33:57.

In an Ulster double, Breege Connolly of City of Derry Spartans finished first woman in 35:19. Making a solid return to racing after a long stretch of injury was Laura Graham of Mourne Runners who was second in 35.40 after pushing the pace in the early stages of the race.

A close third in 35:46 was Gemma Rankin of Kilbarchan AC. First W60 was former Dublin Marathon winner Christine Kennedy in 42.10. A total of 2,450 completed the race.

At the Edenderry 10-Mile on Sunday (July 21) Mary Mulhare of Portlaoise AC picked up valuable KIA Series points when she finished first woman in 58:11. Just one place behind her was Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisokane AC in 58:26. Overall race winner was Paddy Sharkey of Longford AC in 54.39.

U20 team bringing home medals

A large Irish team at the European U20 Championships in Boras, Sweden (July 18-21) came home with three medals.

Kate O’Connor began the Irish account by taking silver in the heptathlon in the opening days of competition. In a closely fought competition, her score of 6093 made her the first Irish women ever to go over 6000 points and broke her own Irish record.

Highlight of her performance was a personal best throw of 52.92m in the javelin, which puts her second behind many times Irish champion Anita White on the all-time Irish list.

Sarah Healy won silver in a nail-biting women’s 1500m final, taking the lead on the penultimate lap and winding up the pace from there. She led turning for home and just lost out to Switzerland’s Delia Sclabas in the run to the line, the 18-year-old Blackrock athlete claiming a silver medal for Ireland in 4:27.14. Sclabas took gold in 4:25.95.

McElhinney was equally as courageous and no less brilliant in the men’s 5000m final, the Bantry athlete taking the lead with a kilometre to run and pushing the pace out front. He was passed with one lap to run but fought all the way to the finish to come home third in 14:06.05. The race was won by Spain’s Aaron Las Heras in 14:02.76. Jamie Battle came home 14th in the same race in 14:42.37.

Just out of the medals in the 200m races were sprinters Aaron Sexton and Davicia Patterson whe both finished fourth. In the women’s 4x400m, the Irish squad finished fifth in a new Irish U20 record of 3:37.42.

There was Irish interest in the men’s javelin won with a mighty 79.44m throw by Simon Wieland of Switzerland. Wieland is coached by 21 times Irish champion and six times Olympian Terry McHugh, who lives in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Irish mountain going from strength to strength

Photo: Sport Pictures Cymru

In Wales on Saturday (July 20, Sarah McCormack won the Snowdon International mountain race for a third time in a superb time of 74:49 – just ten seconds off the women’s course record and a personal best for McCormack by six minutes for this gruelling 10 mile race.

The Irish woman, who is based in England’s Lake District, had to fight hard for her win first passing early race leader Hatti Archer of England and then battling to hold off Italy’s Elisa Sortini, who finished just 22 seconds behind her.

McCormack’s victory consolidates her position at the top of mountain running’s World Cup rankings.

On a great day for the Irish, Zak Hanna of Newcastle AC was fourth overall while Killian Mooney of DSD AC was a fighting 14^th. There were strong runs also from Mark Stephens 19th and Conor O’Mahoney 24^th and of the women, from Becky Quinn 12^th and Sinead Murtagh 18^th.

Season’s bets for Mageean

With the National Championships taking place in Santry next weekend, Ciara Mageean continued her excellent season with a season’s best time of 4:03.70 in the 1500m at the Diamond League Anniversary Games in London on Saturday (July 20). Mageean placed eighth in a race won by Scotland’s Laura Muir in 3:58.25.

Magian racing Muir last year in Berlin. Photo: Getty

In Barcelona on Wednesday (July 17), Mark English ran a time of 1:46.96 to finish a fighting tenth in the 800m. Winner in 1:44.38 was Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti.

At the BMC Meet at Eltham on Saturday (July 20), Amy O’Donoghue of Emerald AC won the A 1500m race in 4:16.58; Katie Kirk of Team New Balance was fourth in the A 800m in 2:06.85 and Mitchell Byrne of Rathfarnham WSAF AC second in the B 1500m with 3:45.35.

European track exploits

A number of Irish athletes were in Belgium for the Heusden-Zolder Night of Athletics on Saturday (July 20), where Andrew Coscoran of Star of the Sea AC clocked a time of 3:40.79 on his way to victory in one of the 1500m races. That improved on the 3:41.19 Coscoran had run a week earlier in Kortrijk, also in Belgium, which put him top of the current Irish rankings. Behind him, John Travers of Donore Harriers finished eight in 3:44.32.

In the B 5000m, Ryan Forsyth of Newcastle AC, who will defend his 5000m title in Santry next weekend, finished 10^th in 13:55.17. Claire Mooney of UCD AC clocked 2:05.08 for second in one of the 800m race series while in the men’s B 800, Zak Curran of Dundrum South Dublin AC finished fourth in 1:48.29. Over 1500m, Ellie Hartnett, of UCD AC, recorded a time of 4:36.76.

Irish steeplechase specialists were in the Finnish town of Lapinlahti for the Savo Games on Wednesday (July 17) not too far from Gavle, where the European U23 Championships had taken place a few days earlier. Brian Fay of Raheny Shamrock, who had competed in the steeplechase in Gavle, finished fourth in the 1500m in 3:46.05. In a 5000m women’s race, current Irish women’s steeplechase champion Michele Finn went through 3000m in 9:20.27 before dropping out.

League titles for Clonliffe and DSD

Clonliffe Harriers men’s team successfully defended their national league title after a long day in Tullamore making it a fifth title in a row and a tenth overall since the National League was first held in 1978.

In the women’s competition, Dundrum South Dublin AC were regaining the title they last won in 2016 for an eighth title overall. St Abban’s, who had won for the past two years, were missing their big name athletes and had barely managed to qualify for the final.

DSD performed well across the board with a team mixing the experience of Sinead Denny, Meghan Ryan, Fiona Clinton, Meghan Ryan, and Fiona Clinton with the youth of (among others) Molly Hourihan, Charlotte Burke, Emma Ryan, Rachel Dunne, and Kate Doherty winner of both the 100m hurdles and 100m flat. Then there were club stalwarts Harriette Robinson, Emmy Coffey Nguyen, Sonya McConnon – and club president Lucy Moore who did her bit in the hammer.

Clonliffe dominated the men’s competition with seven wins, starting with Simon Galligan in the hammer.

Other wins for the Santry- based club came from Greg Hosseny walk, Niall Counihan triple jump, Stephan Rice javelin, Jayme Rossiter steeplechase, Ian Guiden 5000m and the 4 x 100 relay team of Eamonn Fahey, Israel Ibanu, Keith Marks and Keith Pike.High scores from Keith Marks high jump and long jump, Timmy Crowe 110 and 400 hurdles, Luke Mangan shot and 56 lb, Thomas Pitkin 400m and Colm Rooney 1500m all helped.

An impressive second was a new look team from Raheny Shamrock, with winnning performances from Eric Favors, 18.45 in the shot and 48.59 discus, as well as Kieran Kelly in the 1500m and the 4 x 400 team of Brandon Arrey, Jamie Sheridan, Cillian Kirwan and Kieran Kelly.

With the national championships only a week away, there were a number of other eye-catching performances in Tullamore.

Michael Bowler for Wexford County looks well on the way to retaining his pole vault title after soaring over 4.50. In the 400m, Cillin Green of Galway City Harriers was first in 47.75, with Brandon Array of Raheny Shamrock a close second in 47.80. Sharlene Mawdsley, representing Tipperary County, won the women’s 200 in 24.08, while Claire Fitzpatrick for Kerry County showed that she is right back in form after a year’s break from the sport with a winning 50.58 in the discus.

School walkers win in Swansea

At the annual SIAB Schools International in Swansea, Ireland’s only winner was race walker Matthew Glennon with James Hanlon second. In a thrilling girls’ 300m, Jenna Breen was pipped for gold by Cedelle Agyei-Kyem of England who finished in in 39.73 secs; Breen’s times was 39.74. Other Irish competitors taking silver were Oliver Swinning 10.94 secs in the 100m, Aoibheann McMahon 14.65 for the 3kg shot, Tadhg O Muircheartaigh 61.00 in the 700g javelin, and the girls’ 4×100 and boys’ 4 x 400m relay teams.

Earlier on the roads

Winning the Sea to Sky 10km race in Newcastle Co Down on Friday (July 19) was Gordy Graham of East Down AC  in 36 mins 26 secs. Gladys Ganiel of North Belfast Harriers was eighth overall and first woman in 38:42. Neil Curran of East Down AC won the 5km race in 17:38, with junior athlete Anna Gardiner, also East Down AC, sixth over all and first woman in 19.47. Over 900 competed between the two races.

Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham WSAF AC and Renae Cicchinelli were the winners of the St James’s Hospital Liberties 4-Mile Fun Run in Dublin on Thursday evening (July 18).

Hehir’s time of 19:41 saw him finished well over a minute ahead of Eoin Callaghan from Star of the Sea AC and Karol Cronin of Sportsworld, who finished in 21:08 and 21:15 respectively. Cicchinelli clocked a time of 25:48; finishing second and third women were Andrea McNamara of Sportsworld in 26:09 and Jean Murphy in 27:11. A total of 1,306 finished this popular inner city race which starts and finishes in the scenic surroundings of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham.

Peter Somba of Dunboyne AC led home 618 finishers at the Bettystown B-5 organised by Cilles AC in Co Meath on Tuesday (July 16).

Somba’s time of 25:37 put him almost a minute clear of Sean Doran from Clonliffe Harriers, who finished in 26:30, with David Rooney of Rhaney Shamrock third in 26:45. First woman was Niamh Devlin of Dundrum South Dublin AC in 29:31. Laura McDonnell of Tallaght AC was second in 29:50 and Aoife Parrella of Star of the Sea AC third in 32:02.

Winners of the Clyne 5km in Co Cork on Wednesday (July 17) were Kevin O’Leary of East Cork in 15:30 and Ann Geary of Midleton AC in 19:01.

parkrun

Your timely reminder that parkrun isn’t actually a race, but we know everyone likes to see the top ten times each week so here are your quickest runners from Ireland on Saturday July 20th.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

Lindie Naughton is a journalist and writer based in Dublin who joined the athletics club at her college many many years ago and has never quite escaped. You’ll normally find her jogging around some orienteering course somewhere – or down at the Irishtown track coaching kiddies!

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

The post Medals at U20 Champs, Snowdon victory & hard racing at South Dublin 10k – Irish round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

Over 600 runners tackled the 10 mile the out and back route which starts and finishes in Llanberis and scales Wales’ highest mountain. Light rain throughout the morning cleared leaving good conditions for the race which incorporated the fourth round of the 2019 WMRA World Cup.

Andy Douglas had already amassed a lead of around 15 seconds early on the course where the steep road section makes way for the start of the mountain Path. The Scotsman reached the summit in 40:48 with a lead of over a minute over Martin Dematteis of Italy.

The fast descending Caithness man who competes for Inverclyde AC increased his lead on the way back down to the village posting a time of 1:04.04, with a margin of two and a half minutes over Dematteis who finished in 1:06.34.

The Italian man’s twin brother was not far behind in third with both living up to their status amongst the World’s best Mountain runners and enjoying their trip back to Wales where Bernard won Silver at the World Mountain Running Championships in 2015 and Martin joined him in the winning team.

Zak Hanna was the next man home leading his Ireland team but unable to prevent Scotland winning the team event with Douglas supported by James Espie in fifth and Ewan Brown in seventh. Mark Hopkinson was the first athlete home for hosts Wales in 9th place.

Douglas’ victory came following an unstoppable run of form which has seen him win the second round of the World Cup at the Broken Arrow Race in California and claiming a team Gold medal at the European Championships in Zermatt, Switzerland two weeks ago.

Winning words

Winner Douglas spoke following the race; ‘It means so much, it’s a race I’ve wanted to do for a while but it’s never quite been in my plans’.

‘It’s great to have a world cup race here and to have the likes of Bernard and Martin here supporting it is a real privilege’.

‘The World Championships will be the big aim for the rest of the year. I’ll racing the rest of the World Cup Series and then hopefully I can keep things going all the way to November’.

Third victory for McCormack

Photo: Alex Donald

Ireland’s Sarah McCormack has won at Snowdon twice before and the WMRA World Cup leader was unstoppable this time after passing early race leader Hatti Archer of England and battling with Italy’s Elisa Sortini all the way back to the finish.

McCormack’s victory came in 1:14.49, just 22 seconds ahead of Sortini with Archer third in 1:17.17.

England were comfortable victors here as Kelli Roberts and Megan Wilson followed Archer home in fourth and seven places.

‘I did not think it was going to happen before the race, I’m absolutely delighted’ said McCormack.

‘It was a great race and Elisa was catching me on the way down. We were actually neck and neck with about a mile to go which doesn’t happen too often in the women’s field, we can get a bit spread out’.

‘We were both really working hard at that stage. I ran six minutes faster than I’ve ever have here, I’m really happy with that, I wasn’t expecting it’.

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 Douglas and McCormack win Snowdon International Race appeared first on Fast Running.

On the promise of fast running and great crowds, several Irish athletes were hunting quick times at the Night of 10,000m PBs in London on Saturday evening (July 6) .

In the women’s European Cup A race, Fionnuala McCormack of Kilcoole AC was fifth in 32.05.29; Ann Marie McGlynn, of Letterkenny AC, ran 33:38.50 and Nike’s Emma Mitchell 34:12.50.

Aoibhe Richardson was running in the women’s B race, where she finished tenth in 33:41.15; Fionnuala Ross of Armagh AC ws 21^st in 34:25.78.

Ryan Forsyth, along with Mat Bergin of Dundrum South Dublin AC, was running in the men’s B race, where – on the eve of his 23^rd birthday he finished a creditable eighth place in a PB of 29:01.27. Bergin unfortunately was forced to drop out. Totten finished sixth in the men’s D race in another personal best of 30:31.50.

Other Irish in action included Grace Lynch of Iveragh AC and Kilcooole’s Una Britton who ran times of 35:42.23 and 36:29.95 respectively in the women’s C race. In the men’s E race, Declan Reed of City of Derry Spartans ran 31:15.63 and Scott Rankin of Foyle Valley AC 31:19.14.

Photo: Gill Bland

Down Under

Further across the field in Australia, was the Gold Coast Half Marathon. There were some cracking female performances, with the top two athletes crossing the line in under 70 minutes. The Irish-born Australian long-distance runner, Sinead Diver, took gold in a beaming time of 69:45. Diver was closely followed by Ellie Pashley, only five seconds behind in 69:50. Just above the 70-minute mark was Lisa Weightman in 70:30.

10 miles on the road

Mick Clohisey and Michele Finn proved the class of the fields at the Roscommon 10-Mile road race, held on Saturday (July 6)

Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock, finished in 48:56, just off his course record time of 48:47 set in 2017. It was a thrid consecutive win for the current national marathon champion who also won last year in 49:31. David Flynn of Clonliffe Harriers was second in 49.32 and Hugh Armstrong from Ballina AC third in 51.06.

In the women’s race, Finn’s time of 58 mins 47 secs was a new course record. The Leevale athlete, who ran the steepechase at the Rio Olympics, has been in impressive form recently running a personal best 15:45.55 for 5000m as well as 9:51.22 for the steeplechase.

Behind her, Mary Mulhare of Portlaoise AC picked up valuable KIA Race Series rankings when finishing second in 60:40. Leevale’s Sinead O’Connor, who topped the KIA rankings going into the race, finished third in 61.13. Mulhare and O’Connor are now tied on 10 points apiece.

Paddy Sharkey of Longford AC, fourth place overall, was first M40 in 55:02, while Caroline Donnelan of Edenderry AC was first W40 in 63:11 ahead of Maria McCambridge of DSD AC who finished in 65.25. First M50 was Brendan Donagher of Naomh Mhuire AC in 59:06; Maura Dervin of Mullingar Harriers in 74.15 was first W50.

Of the nine races in the KIA Series, just three remain. Next round is the Edenderry 10-Mile on Sunday 12 July.

Multi-eventers win promotion to top league

Ireland has won promotion to the European Combined Events Teams Championships first league after finishing second in the second league held in Ribeira Brava, Madeira over the weekend (July 6/7). Ireland with a total of 35821 points finished second behind Belgium on 35865 points and comfortably clear of Denmark on 34240.

All three of the Irish men achieved personal best scores in the decathlon with Michael Bowler from Enniscorthy AC finishing second individual. Bowler had dropped back to third after the hurdles and discus on the second day of competition, but pulled back to second thanks to a 4.50 in the pole vault, an event in which he is national champion. He ended up with 7379 points thanks to strong performances also in the 100m, long jump and hurdles.

Pulling up from sixth to fifth place overnight was Shane Aston of Trim AC , whose throw of 59.05 in the javelin was the best in the competition and moved him up again into fourth place overall. His total of 7231 added 162 points to his previous best set last last month at the UK Championships.

Completing his first decathlon in some time for 14^th place was Rolus Olusa of Clonliffe Harriers, whose best points came in the hurdles. He ended up with a score of 6626 which added eleven points to his previous record.

In the women’s heptathlon, Ireland was missing its top three, with Elizabeth Morland scheduled to compete in the European U23 championships next week, Kate O’Connor competing in the European U20 championships a week later and Grace McKenzie based in the USA.

Finishing a fighting seventh with a personal best 5114 points was 18-year-old Anna McCauley of City of Lisburn AC, whose biggest points came in the hurdles, high jump and 200m and who recored a personal best 11.08m in the shot. Sarah Connolly pf North Down AC just missed out on her best of 5031 from last month with a score of 4990 for 11^th place, while Laura Frey of Lagan Valley AC produced a good time of 2:17.72 in the 800m and finished 20^th with 4481 points.

Track and Field action

Two thrilling 800m races proved the highlights of the Athletics Ireland Junior and U23 Track and Field Championships held in Tullamore on Saturday (July 6).

First up were the junior girls, where Sarah Healy of Blackrock AC was the pre-race favourite. As it turned out, she was given a race for her money, only winning in the sprint for the line from Jo Keane from Ennis TC. Healy’s time was 2:11.40 with Keane timed at 2:11.56.

Even closer was a tactical men’s 800m, where Darragh McElhinney of Bantry, fresh from his Irish junior 3000m record of a week earlier, was the expected winner. As it turned out, it was Louis O’Loughlin of Donore Harriers who won the race in a blanket finish. O’Loughlin was given a time of 1:54.00, Mark Milner of Mullingar Harriers was second in 1:54.01 and McElhinney third in 1:54.02.

In the junior women’s 100m, there were no surprises when Rhasidat Adeleke of Tallaght AC was a clear winner in 11.80 secs with her training training partner Patience Jumbo Gula of Dundalk St Gerard’s AC second in 12.00 secs.

With no Aaron Sexton on the start line, Reality Osuoha of Fingallians AC was the winner of the junior men’s 100m in 10.95 secs. Michael Farrelly of Raheny Shamrock was second in 11.00 and Ryan O’Leary of Leevale AC a close third in 11.01.

Records fall in field events

In the junior women’s javelin, heptathlete Kate O’Connor of Dundalk St Gerard’s AC improved her own championships record to 48.98m, although it was off the 49.46m she threw at the Leinster Schools Championships in Santry last May. O’Connor, who heads for the European U20 Championships starting on July 18, also won the long jump with 5.98m and ran a personal best 24.88 in the 200m heats, opting out of the final.

In the U23 women’s pole vault, Ellie McCartney of City of Lisburn, a 19-year-old student at Brunel University and the current British Universities champion, won with a personal best vault 4.01, improving on her own national junior record of 4.00 set last month in Bedford. It puts her fourth on the all-time Irish rankings

Notable U23 winners on the day included Ciara Neville of Emerald AC winner of a quality women’s 100m in a time of 11.69, with Molly Scott of St LOT AC second in 11.74 and Sarah Quinn of St Colman’s South Mayo AC third in 11.90. Scott went on to win the

100m hurdles in 13.71 secs with Kate Doherty of Dundrum South Dublin AC second in 14.04 and multi-eventer Elizabeth Morland of Cushinstown AC third in 14.08. Morland, who competes in the heptathlon at the European U23 Championships starting next Thursday in Gavle, Sweden, later won the long jump with 5.98m and finished second in the shot with 11.72m.

Winning the 200m in 23.74 was Sharlene Mawdsley of Newport AC. Sophie Becker of St Joseph’s AC was second in a personal best time of 24.05. Taking 400m title in 54.24 secs was Jenna Brommell of Emerald AC.

Mark Smith of Raheny Shamrock won the men’s 100m was in 10.74 secs, with Joseph Ojemumi of Tallaght AC second in 10.77 and Michael McAuley of Ballymena and Antrim AC third in 10.84.

Youghal’s Fearghal Curtin was the winner of the men’s 1500m in 3:49.54, with Shane Bracken of Swinford AC a close second in 3:50.16. Taking the 800m title in 1:52.97 was Callum Crawford-Walker of Annadale Striders AC.

Michaela Walsh of Swinford AC dominated the U23 women’s throws, winning the hammer with 58.63, the shot with 13.57 the javelin with 37.42 and weight for distance with 6.40. Best in the discus was Niamh Fogarty of Raheny Shamrock AC with 51.02, while winning the men’s hammer with 64.51 was Owen Russell of St Andrew’s AC.

At junior level, the men’s hammer was won by Sean Mockler of Moycarkey Coolcroo AC with a 68.06 effort in the fifth round. In the shot, a 16.72m throw gave the title to James Kelly of Finn Valley AC. Winning the junior high jump with 1.80m was Sommer Lecky of Finn Valley AC.

The Athletics NI Team Trophy

At the second round of the Athletics NI Team Trophy on Saturday (July 6), Lagan Valley AC came out on top in the women’s competition with a total of 186 from the two rounds. City Of Derry Spartans were second with 171 points, and City of Lisburn third on 1178 points. Lagan Valley AC has qualified in fourth place for the division 1 final of the National Track and Field League in Tullamore on July 20.

Clear winners of the men’s competition with 193 points were City of Derry Spartans. Lagan Valley on 127 were second and City of Lisburn third on 117. City of Lisburn AC has qualified for the men’s first division final of the national league finishing third overall on points after the two qualifying rounds.

Photo: Robbie Britton

Mountain Running

Sarah McCormack and Zak Hanna were Ireland’s best performers at the European Mountain Running C’ships on an uphill only course in the foothills of the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland on Sunday (July 7).

In the women’s senior race, McCormack finished a solid 16th in 66 mins 58 Secs. Race winner for a third year was Switzerland’s Maude Mathys in 60:18 [Worth noting that in 2015 Mathys was reprimanded for an ADRV for using clomiphene- Editor]; six times world champion Andrea Mayr of Austria, now aged 39, was just over a minute behind for second.

In a quality men’s race, Hanna did well to finish 19^th in 57 mins 27 secs, just over four minutes behind the winner, Britain’s Jacob Adkin, who finished in 53:21.

In the junior men’s race, Ronan Maguire was best of the Irish in 24^th place, with Tony McCambridge of St Malachy’s AC not far behind in 28^th. In the women’s junior race, Aoife Coffey of Lucan Harriers was 22^nd.

Eoin Flynn in full flight on his way to 42nd place in 59:47. Photo: Robbie Britton

Killian Mooney of Dundrum South Dublin AC proved the class of the field in the Leinster Evening League 9km race at Trooperstown in Co Wicklow on Wednesday (July 3), finishing over half a minute ahead of the chasers in 41 mins 27 secs. Second in 42.01 was Barry Minnock of Rathfarnham WSAF AC who was also first M40. In a double for DSD AC, Grace O’Rourke won the women’s race in 52:12. Patricia McLoughlin of Le Cheile AC was second and first W40 in 57.26.

Earlier in the week

Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe Harriers was the winner of the Robbie Steele Memorial Corkbeg4-Mile in Co Cork on Thursday (July 4) with a time of 19 mins 43 secs. Kevin O’Leary of East Cork AC was second in 20.38 and Sharon Cleere from Thurles first woman in 24:16.

Winners of the CPO BHAA 5km, at Tramore Valley Park in Co Cork on Wednesday (July 3), were Alan O’Shea in 15:27 and Carol Finn in 19.00.

At the Coillte 10km, in Dundrum, Co Tipperary also on Wednesday (July 3), David Mansfield of Clonmel AC was first home in 31 mins 4 secs, with the top five men all funder 32 minutes. First woman was Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisokane AC in 36:49.

parkrun

Annette Kealy and Tom Lupton were your quickest parkrunners in Ireland this weekend (July 6th). Full Irish rankings here.

RELATED: 7 ways to run faster at parkrun

Lindie Naughton is a journalist and writer based in Dublin who joined the athletics club at her college many many years ago and has never quite escaped. You’ll normally find her jogging around some orienteering course somewhere – or down at the Irishtown track coaching kiddies!

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

The post PBs at Highgate 10k and top 20s at Euro Mountain Champs – Irish Round-up appeared first on Fast Running.