 |
| Linda Byrne |
Despite tougher standards, 30 Irish distance runners have been offered places on the Marathon Mission squad for 2012, with about 24 expected to accept the offer.
For women, the 2 hours 45 minutes marathon qualifying time for the squad remains for a third year, although the half marathon time drops by 30 seconds to 78 minutes 30 seconds and the 10-mile time to 59 minutes.
For men, the half marathon standard is now 66 minutes 30 seconds, while the 10-mile standard of 50 minutes and the marathon time 2 hours 24 minutes remain unchanged.
In 2011, 14 women rang under 79 minutes for the half marathon, while seven broke 2 hour 45 minutes for the marathon – a significant improvement on the previous four years when no more than three in any given year had gone under that marathon time.
It means that Linda Byrne’s Olympic qualifying time of 2 hours 36 minutes 21 seconds set in Dublin may not be enough to book her place at London 2012.
Gladys Ganiel and Ava Hutchinson are scheduled to run the Houston Marathon on January 14, while Maria McCambridge is likely to run either in Seville on February 19 or Barcelona a month later on March 17.
Among those likely to run the Rotterdam Marathon on April 15 are Caitriona Jennings, Lorraine Manning, Annette Kealy, Lizzie Lee, Breege Connolly, Rosemary Ryan and Barbara Sanchez.
For women, the 2 hours 45 minutes marathon qualifying time for the squad remains for a third year, although the half marathon time drops by 30 seconds to 78 minutes 30 seconds and the 10-mile time to 59 minutes.
For men, the half marathon standard is now 66 minutes 30 seconds, while the 10-mile standard of 50 minutes and the marathon time 2 hours 24 minutes remain unchanged.
In 2011, 14 women rang under 79 minutes for the half marathon, while seven broke 2 hour 45 minutes for the marathon – a significant improvement on the previous four years when no more than three in any given year had gone under that marathon time.
It means that Linda Byrne’s Olympic qualifying time of 2 hours 36 minutes 21 seconds set in Dublin may not be enough to book her place at London 2012.
Gladys Ganiel and Ava Hutchinson are scheduled to run the Houston Marathon on January 14, while Maria McCambridge is likely to run either in Seville on February 19 or Barcelona a month later on March 17.
Among those likely to run the Rotterdam Marathon on April 15 are Caitriona Jennings, Lorraine Manning, Annette Kealy, Lizzie Lee, Breege Connolly, Rosemary Ryan and Barbara Sanchez.
 |
| Add caption |
Of the men, five went under 2 hours 20 minutes in 2011, with both Mark Kenneally and Sean Connolly doing it twice. In the previous four years combined, just two men ran under 2 hours 20 minutes.
Mark Kenneally is banking on his 2 hour 13 minutes 55 second time from Amsterdam in October being enough to get him to London Olympics.
Connolly, with a time of 2:17.23, from Rotterdam last April, returns to the Dutch city in April aiming to run under the Olympic qualifying mark of 2.15, while Thomas Frazer will run either Rotterdam or Boston. Alan O’Shea, Gary Thornton and Martin Fagan are undecided on their next moves.
Leading the Irish half marathon list at the moment is US-based Alistair Cragg, who ran a time of 60 minutes 49 seconds in New York last March, but dropped out of both Boston and Fukuoka marathons. Running 65 minutes 24 seconds for the half marathon was Sean Hehir, who may make his marathon debut in the spring.
COUNCIL RACES TO KICK-START NEW YEAR CALENDAR
First race on the Business Houses Athletic Association calendar for 2012 is the South Dublin County Council races in Tymon Park, Tallaght on Saturday January 7 (12 noon), with women running two miles and men double that. New BHAA runners are welcome to come along and sign up on the day. Take out annual membership for just €15, and you can run in any of 20-plus events for an entry fee of €10 (non-members pay €15). Runners of all ages from 18 to 88 and of all standards are BHAA “regulars”, with spot prizes and chip timing at all races. Details www.bhaa.ie.
COGHLAN METORS DCU TEAM
A DCU team mentored by Eamonn Coghlan will compete in the College Men’s Distance Medley Relay at the Millrose Games in New York on February 11.
Making up the DCU squad are middle distance specialists Mark English, Darren McBrearty and John Coghlan, along with Irish 400m champion Brian Gregan. Coach to the team is Enda Fitzpatrick.
Irish athletes have a great record at the Millrose Games, with Ronnie Delany winning the legendary Wannamaker Mile four times in the 1950s and then Coghlan going even better when he won it seven times between 1977 and 1987. Marcus O’Sullivan, now head coach at Villanova, then took over Coghlan’s mantle, winning the race four times.
Taking on the DCU squad are teams from Villanova, Virginia, Duke, Providence, Columbia and Albany. During their 10-day US trip, DCU will also compete at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational on February 3-4.
HEHIR SIGNS OFF FINE YEAR WITH ATHENRY WIN
Sean Hehir from Rathfarnham ended his year with a great win at the Fields of Athenry 10km. For the first time in three years, the race took place as scheduled on St Stephen’s Day, with over a thousand athletes from all over the country lining out. Finishing second behind Hehir was Sligo’s Emmett Dunleavy, while third was Craughwell’s evergreen Gerry Ryan. First woman and 20th overall was Lizzie Lee of Leevale, with Ailish Malone from Clonliffe second and local athlete Laura Shaughnessy third.
Sean Hehir from Rathfarnham ended his year with a great win at the Fields of Athenry 10km. For the first time in three years, the race took place as scheduled on St Stephen’s Day, with over a thousand athletes from all over the country lining out. Finishing second behind Hehir was Sligo’s Emmett Dunleavy, while third was Craughwell’s evergreen Gerry Ryan. First woman and 20th overall was Lizzie Lee of Leevale, with Ailish Malone from Clonliffe second and local athlete Laura Shaughnessy third.
FITZPATRICK STREETS AHEAD IN WICKLOW
Tallaght’s Tomas Fitzpatrick just failed to get under 15 minutes when winning the revived Streets of Wicklow 5km comfortably. DSD master Peter Matthews came home in second place, with Sli Cualann’s Cathal Daly third and first junior. Roisin McGettigan, on a visit home from her US base, was a comfortable winner of the women’s race ahead of Tara Farrell, one of the many Sli Cualann juniors who turned out.
LARGE FIELD EXPECTED FOR AXA RAHENY 5
Over 1,500 runners of all ages and standards are expected to turn out for the Axa Raheny 5-mile Road Race on Sunday January 19 – the first major road race of the New Year. Club runners traditionally use the race as a break from the cross-country slog. For many others it serves as the perfect wake-up call after the Christmas excesses. This year, for the first time, no entries will be taken on the day, with online entry closing on Saturday January 28. Entry costs €20; see www.rahenyshamrock.ie.
No comments yet.