Ciarain O Lionaird and Paul Robinson became the latest members of the sub-four minute mile cub, Irish branch, at last week’s Morton mile, held at the 125th Clonliffe meet in Santry.
O Lionaird from Leevale ran 3:57.99 while Robinson from the St Coca’s club could not have been closer when the electronic clock stopped at 3:59.99. It makes him the youngest Irishman to have run under four minutes.
Just missing out were Tallaght’s Sean Connolly with a time of 4:00.14 and John Coghlan from MSB in 4:00.79. Winning the race in a person best time of 3:56.83 was the American Jordan McNamara.
Coming home first in the junior mile was Raheny’s Timmy Moriarty in 4:23.76.
The evening had started with the women’s 100m, won by Amy Foster in a new stadium and Northern Irish record of 11.49. A close second was Ferrybank’s Kelly Proper in 11. 60. Proper went on to win the long jump with a best of 6.18m.
Proving that his early season form is no fluke was Jason Smyth from Derry who won the men’s 100m in 10.39. Later Smyth also won the 200m in 20.94 – his first time under 21 seconds.
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| Siofra Cleirigh Buttner |
Highlight of the Irish Milers Club races was the women’s 800m. This was won by Ciara Mageean of Lisburn in 2:03.21, but almost as impressive were Riocht’s Laura Crowe, second in 2:05.41, and 16-year-old Siofra Cleirigh Buttner of DSD in a personal best 2:06.57.
Mark English from Letterkenny won the men’s race in 1:48.96, with Tallaght Anthony Lieghio second in 1:49.20.
Over 20 athletes lined out for the 3000m. In a thrilling race, Michael Mulhare from North Laois held off Raheny’s Dave Rooney who put in a huge effort on the final lap. From third place at the bell, Rooney had caught DSD’s Breandan O’Neill but left it to late for overall victory. Mulhare won in 8:03.08, with Rooney second in 8:02.59 and O’Neill third in 8:03.63.
In the men’s pole vault, the American Jeff Coover soared over the bar at 5.30 failing at 5.45. Best of the Irish with 4.70 was Ruairi O Brian of Crusaders who, after a long break, is clearly a contender for the national title next month.
COUNTDOWN TO IRISH RUNNER 5
Just three days to go until the first race in this year’s National Lottery Race Series, with over 6,300 signed up for Saturday’s Irish Runner 5-Mile in Dublin’s Phoenix Park after a late surge in entries.
DOONEY TOPS IN TURKEY
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| Kevin Dooney |
Raheny’s Kevin Dooney led the Irish junior boys team to seventh place at the European Mountain Running Championships in Bursa Turkey. Dooney in 11th pace on the 8.5km uphill course was followed by James Egan 22nd and James Speight 39th. In temperatures that soared over 30 degree, Brian McMahon was 22nd in the men’s 12km race, won by Turkey Ahmet Arslan for a fifth time. Overall Italy took both men and women’s senior titles while Turkey was first in both junior men and women’s events.
MOUNT LEINSTER WINS FOR HOGAN, JOYCE
Local man Tom Hogan equalled the course record of 59 mins 59 secs when he won the Leinster Championships race at Mount Leinster. First woman was Aoife Joyce who set a new record of 76 mins 2 secs.
FRENCH WINNER OF WORLD TRAIL
French ultra runner Erik Clavery led home 131 athletes from 22 counties at the AU Trail World Championships in Connemara. National Park. On a 71km course that took in Diamond Hill and Benbaun, as well as an assortment of trails, bog and open countryside, Clavery was the winner in 6:39:07 after a great battle with Canadian, Jason Loutitt second 6:40:32.
Best of the Irish was UK-based Daniel Doherty, 17th in 7:19:18, with good runs also from Paul Tierney 24th in 7:24:35, and Eoin Keith 27th in 7:34:27.
O’REGAN FOR 24-HOUR IN BELFAST
Leading the Irish entry at next weekend’s Energia Belfast 24-Hour and Irish Championships race at the Mary Peters’ track is John O’Regan, from Leixlip, winner of the Inca Trail Marathon and the 100-mile Yukon Arctic Ultra.
Also entered are Madrid-based Eddie Gallen, who has twenty 24-hour races to his credit and Everest climber Lynne Hanna, first woman last year. The races starts on Friday evening at 6.45
MURPHY TOPS 400M RANKINGS
Brian Murphy of Crusaders moved to the top of the 400m rankings when he ran a time of 46.41 at the Brussels Grand Prix. Athenry’s Paul Hession won the 200m in 20.81. In Birmingham, Fionnualla Britton was close to her best when she finished third in the steeplechase in 9:37.95. Alistair Cragg, who had missed out on the Morton Mile two days earlier with sinus problems, was ninth in the 5000m in 13:16.80
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