From the challenging streets of northeastern England, to tracks across Europe, and back to home roads, Lindie Naughton provides an update on Irish endurance news from this weekend.
In his first-ever race at this distance, Efrem Gidey from Clonliffe Harriers placed fifth in the Great North Run on Sunday. He completed the point-to-point course from Newcastle to South Shields on Tyneside, England, in a time of 64 minutes and 3 seconds.
Despite the hot conditions, the race started off at a fast pace. Gidey was part of the lead group that passed the five-mile mark in 23 minutes and 11 seconds, and completed the 10km mark in 28 minutes and 55 seconds. Shortly after, the pre-race favorite Tamirat Tola from Ethiopia increased the pace and ultimately won the race in 59 minutes and 55 seconds.
Six-time winner Sir Mo Farah, who was competing in his final race, finished fourth. Gidey managed to keep up with Farah until the final two miles, finishing solidly in fifth place, nearly half a minute ahead of British athlete Andy Butchart. Stephen Scullion, also from Clonliffe Harriers, finished 32nd with a time of 70 minutes and 19 seconds.
Top masters athletes participate
Some of Ireland’s top master athletes took part in the Charleville International Half Marathon in County Cork on Sunday. Michael Harty from East Cork AC and Barbara Cleary from Donore Harriers emerged as the winners.
In the men’s race, Harty, who is in the M40 category, finished first with a time of 67 minutes and 3 seconds. He was closely followed by William Maunsell from Clonmel AC, who finished second in 67 minutes and 13 seconds. Sean Doyle from Cork City AC took third place with a time of 69 minutes.
Barbara Cleary completed the race in 79 minutes and 20 seconds, setting a new W50 record. Isabel Oakes from Sligo AC finished in second place with a time of 79 minutes and 53 seconds, while Sinead Lynch from an unaffiliated club took third place and first in the W45 category with a time of 82 minutes and 43 seconds.
In the men’s category, Myles Gibbons from Sliabh Bhuide Rovers A.C. finished first in the M45 category with a time of 74 minutes and 10 seconds. Jerry Forde placed third in the M70 category and took first place in the wheelchair category.
Highlights from the half marathon season
Peter Somba from Dunboyne AC won the Ratoath Half Marathon held at Fairyhouse Racecourse in County Meath on Saturday. He completed the race in a time of 70 minutes and 15 seconds. Colin Griffin, a former Olympic race walker from Ballinamore AC, finished second in the men’s race and first in the M40 category with a time of 70 minutes and 54 seconds. Grace Lynch from Dundrum South Harriers was the first woman to cross the finish line with a time of 79 minutes and 1 second.
Daniel Stone from Raheny Shamrock AC emerged as the winner in the Dromiskin 5km race in County Louth. He completed the race in 14 minutes and 38 seconds. The women’s race was won by Catherine O’Connor from Harrow AC, who finished in 16 minutes and 37 seconds.
In the team competitions, North East Runners won the men’s team prize, while Dunleer AC took first place in the women’s teams category.
This photo is from the same meet last year, but we imagine it was similar feelings in 2023. Photo: James Rhodes
Ciara Mageean sets new Irish record
The track season is coming to an end, but it was a busy week for Irish athletes competing in various meets across Europe.
Ciara Mageean from City of Lisburn AC achieved a remarkable feat at the Brussels Diamond League meet. She finished second in the women’s 1500m race and improved on her own Irish record with a time of 3 minutes and 55.87 seconds. The race was won by Laura Muir from Scotland in a time of 3 minutes and 55.34 seconds. Mageean had previously defeated Muir at the same meet a year ago, setting a time of 3 minutes and 56.63 seconds, which broke Sonia O’Sullivan’s 1995 record.
Mageean has had a successful season, setting new Irish records in the 800m and mile events earlier this year.
Photo: James Rhodes
Sophie O’Sullivan sets new Irish U23 record
Sophie O’Sullivan from Ballinamore Cobh AC has been in outstanding form in the late season. In Rovereto, Italy, she finished second in the women’s 3000m with a time of 8 minutes, 44.72 seconds – a new Irish U23 record. She also competed in the Volksbank Trier Flutlichtmeeting in Germany, winning the 2000m in a personal best time of 6 minutes and 0.44 seconds, and finishing second in the 800m with a personal best time of 2 minutes and 1.43 seconds.
Brian Fay from Raheny Shamrock AC achieved a lifetime best time of 7 minutes and 36.89 seconds in the men’s 3000m race at the Palio Città della Quercia meet in Rovereto, Italy. This performance places him third on the all-time Irish rankings. A few days earlier, Fay had set a personal best time of 3 minutes and 36.52 seconds in the 1500m race in Padua, Italy.
Brian Fay might not have noticed this lovely sunset with his focus on PBs. Photo: James Rhodes
Mark English from Finn Valley AC finished fifth in the men’s 800m race at the Boris Hanžeković Memorial in Zagreb, Croatia, with a time of 1 minute and 45.56 seconds. This marks his third sub-1:46 time of the season.
In Pflungstadt, Germany, Luke McCann from UCD AC achieved an outdoor personal best time of 3 minutes and 53.82 seconds in the mile race. Earlier this year in New York, McCann ran 3 minutes and 53.55 seconds indoors, also a personal best.