Here’s a recap of the latest Irish endurance events, brought to you by Lindie Naughton.
Michael Harty, a runner from East Cork AC, emerged victorious in the Rathfarnham 5km race held in Dublin on September 24, crossing the finish line in a time of 14 mins 32 secs. Harty, who also secured the first place spot in the M40 category, outperformed Daniel Stone from Raheny Shamrock AC and David Scanlon from Rathfarnham WSAF AC, who finished close behind in 14:37 and 14:38 respectively.
Photo: Lindie Naughton
Shane Healy from Metro St Brigid’s AC clinched the eighth position and first place in the M50 category. Healy has his eyes set on breaking the world M55 mile record when he transitions into that age group on October 5th. The first junior runner to cross the finish line was Luke Duffy from Tullamore Harriers, who completed the race in 15:13, securing the tenth position.
Clare Fagan from Mullingar Harriers was the first woman to finish, clocking in at 16:53. Last year’s champion, Mary Mulhare from Portlaoise AC, claimed the second spot, narrowly beating Ciara Hickey from Brothers Pearse AC in a close race. Both Mulhare and Hickey finished with a time of 16:32.
In the team competitions, Rathfarnham WSAF AC claimed the top position in the men’s category, followed by Clonliffe Harriers in second place and Crusaders AC in third place. Dublin City Harriers emerged as clear winners in the women’s team competition, with Rathfarnham WAF AC and Sportsworld AC taking the second and third positions respectively. In the over-50 team championships, Sportsworld AC secured the men’s title and Brothers Pearse AC claimed the women’s title. Civil Service AC and Lucan Harriers were victorious in the men’s and women’s over-50 categories respectively.
Not Just a World Record in Berlin
At the Berlin Marathon, Christine Kennedy from Galway City Harriers, who is 68 years old, won the W60 age category with a time of 3 hrs 17 mins 38 secs. Kennedy’s personal best time of 2:35:05 was achieved at the 1989 Berlin Marathon, a remarkable thirty-four years ago. Kennedy started running in her mid-twenties and has had an illustrious running career, including winning the Irish marathon title in 1984 and the Dublin Marathon in 1990 and 1991. She also won a national cross-country title in 1989 and went on to win world titles in the 5000m and marathon in the United States, where she lived for a period. In 2014, Kennedy became the oldest woman to complete a marathon in under three hours.
In the men’s category at the Berlin Marathon, Kyle Doherty from City of Derry Spartans was the first Irish runner to cross the finish line with a time of 2:22:49. Isabel Oakes from Sligo AC was the first Irish woman, finishing in 2:45:10.
* Update: On September 17, at the Sydney Marathon, Caitriona Jennings from Letterkenny AC, who is known for her ultra-running accomplishments, completed the race in a time of 2:48:26.
John Travers of Donore Harriers, who had previously won the Griffith Avenue Mile, secured another victory at the Midland 10km race held in Athlone. Travers dominated the field and finished almost ten minutes ahead of the other competitors, crossing the finish line in 29 mins 50 secs.
In the half marathon race, Mick Fogarty claimed the top spot with a time of 71:04, followed by Gareth Murran from Sportsworld AC in second place (75:03) and Clive Glancy from Carrick-on-Shannon AC in third place (75:47). Monika De Almeida from Athlone AC was the first woman to finish, completing the race in 90:37.
Matthew McMeekin emerged victorious in the Sligo Coast-to-Coast 10-Mile race from Strandhill to Rosses Point, finishing with a time of 51 mins 10 secs. Brian Kinsella secured the second position with a time of 57:36, while Cora Regan claimed the top spot in the women’s category with a time of 63:58.
Saturday Races
Peter Somba from Dunboyne AC emerged as the winner of the Dublin Half Marathon, which took place in the Phoenix Park on Saturday. Somba engaged in a thrilling Battle Royale with Sergiu Ciobanu from Clonliffe Harriers and won by a slim one-second margin, finishing with a time of 67 mins 5 secs. David Glynn secured the third position with a time of 67:08.
Aoife Cleary from Wicklow was the first woman to finish, completing the race in 78:11. Fiona Stack from Raheny Shamrock AC secured the second position with a time of 83:12, while Yuliya Tasasova from Clonliffe Harriers claimed the third position with a time of 84:31.
About her victory, Cleary expressed her disbelief, stating, “I can’t believe I just did that. I grew up in the Wicklow Mountains, so I’ve always been running in nature and developed a deeper passion for it during lockdown.”
In Ballycastle, Co Mayo, Norah Newcombe Pieterse from Mayo AC became the first woman to win the Ceide Coast Half Marathon outright, finishing with a time of 83:02. Her clubmate from Mayo AC, John Gordon, secured the second position and won the men’s category with a time of 83:32.
Newcastle and District AC claimed the men’s senior title at the NI and Ulster Road Relay Championships held in Victoria Park, Belfast on Saturday. The team, consisting of Eoghan Totten, Niall Goodman, Robbie Hagen, and Patrick McNiff, finished with a time of 39 mins 14 secs. North Down AC secured the second position in 40:49, followed by Ballydrain Harriers in third place with a time of 41:28. Newcastle’s victory marked their second win in this event, having previously won in 2017.
In the women’s senior category, Annadale Striders secured the title with a time of 45:51, followed by Willowfield Harriers in second place (47:01) and East Down AC in third place (48:52). Lagan Valley AC emerged as the winners in the master women’s category with a time of 50:22, followed by Keep ‘Er Lit AC in 50:50 and Beechmount Harriers AC in 50:55. The master men’s title was claimed by North Belfast Harriers in 42:26, with North Down AC securing the second position in 42:54 and Ballymena Runners finishing third in 44:05.
Cross-Country is Back Already!
Conal McCambridge from North Belfast Harriers emerged as the winner of the men’s 7km race at the TJ McElmeel Cup, held in Armagh. McCambridge completed the race in 26 mins 46 secs, followed by Patrick Millar from Ballymena Runners in second place (26:55) and Tommy Arthur from Lagan Valley AC in third place (27:42).
Laurence Johnston from North Belfast Harriers secured the first position in the M60-plus 5km race with a time of 21:41. Tom Fleming from Loughview AC won the U18 5km race with a time of 18:00.
In the women’s 5km race, Gillian McCrory from St Peter’s AC finished first with a time of 20 mins 9 secs, also securing the first place spot in the W40 category. Olivia Morgan from Lagan Valley AC claimed the second position with a time of 23:29, while Karen Costello from Dunleer AC finished third and first in the W45 category with a time of 20:47. Cora Scullion from Omagh Harriers won the W18 3km race with a time of 14:28.
Ultra/Off-Road Events
Aidan McMoreland from North Sligo AC won the Seven Sisters Skyline 55km race in Dunlewey, Co Donegal, completing the challenging course in 7 hrs 56 mins 56 secs. British runner Paul Brennan secured the second position in 8:03:09, while Enda Cloake from Slaney Olympic AC finished third in 8:16:36.
Kasie Enman, a former world mountain running champion from Vermont, USA, finished fifth overall and was the first woman to cross the finish line with a time of 8:28:12. Despite participating in the UTMB 170km race prior to Seven Sisters Skyline, Ellen Vitting from Kenmare AC managed to secure the second position in the women’s category, completing the race in 9:19:12. Kristen O’Sullivan finished third with a time of 9:28:27.