An Irish male athlete running under 2 hours 15 minutes at this year’s National Lottery Dublin Marathon could earn himself €8,000, while an Irish female athlete breaking 2 hours 37 seconds could earn a similar amount.
All is part of the marathon’s attempt to improve long distance running standards in this country. A key to this has been the “Marathon Mission” funded by the Dublin Marathon and supervised by former Olympic marathon runner Dick Hooper.
“Despite the increase in social running and record levels of Irish participation in this year’s Dublin Marathon, the standard of Irish elite running has dropped considerably over the last decade,” Dublin Marathon race director Jim Aughney points out.
“Eleven of the first fourteen Dublin Marathons were won by Irish runners, routinely running sub 2:20. Yet there hasn’t been an Irish winner in sixteen years.”
Now in its second year, the “Marathon Mission” hopes to make gradual improvements. Standards for London 2012 are 2 hrs 15 mins for men and 2 hrs 37 mins for women. For the World Championships in Deagu. Korea next August, the standards are 2:16 and 2:38.
Of the current crop of Irish distance runners, Mark Kenneally with 2:17.22 in Vienna and Sean Connolly with 2:17.23 in Rotterdam have come closest. Best of the women are Lorraine Manning with 2:44.29 and Siobhan O’Doherty with 2:45.25 at Paris. Best of the locally-based women is current national champion Barbara Sanchez with 2:39.40 in Dublin. She doesn’t hold an Irish passport – yet.
Men who have run under 2 hours 25 minutes for the marathon, or under 67 minutes for the half marathon and women with times under 2 hours 45 mins and 79 mins 30 seconds are invited to join the Marathon Mission squad.
The latest to make it is Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham WSAF, who ran 66 mins 50 secs at the Gothenburg Half Marathon last Saturday.
Underlining the softly, softly approach of “Marathon Mission”, Hehir won’t run his first marathon for other two years.
Whatever happens, the winners of the National Championships, run in association with the National Lottery Dublin Marathon, are assured of a generous €3,000 pay cheque.
* Congratulations to Marathon Mission member Maria McCambridge and her husband/coach Gary Crossan on the birth of son Dylan last week.
Mark Kenneally will run the 5,000m for his club Clonliffe Harriers at the European Club Track and Field Championships in Belgrade on Sunday. Making a welcome return to the Clonliffe colours is Boston-based Dave Fitzmaurice, while Brian Gregan in the 400m, pole vaulter Dave Donegan and Tom Rauktys in the shot and discus should all pick up points.
*Cash prizes will go to the first six across the line in the Morton Mile, feature event at the Clonliffe 125 Track and Field Grand Prix in Santry on Friday July 8.
Highlight of the weekend’s track action was the personal best time of 10.22 run by Jason Smyth when finishing third in a 100m in Florida. The time is inside the World Championships B standard. In Los Angeles, Steph Reilly finished third in the steeplechase with a time of 9:49.78 – also inside the B standard.
Athletes who travelled to Loughborough had to contend with gale force winds, but produced some encouraging runs. Rory Chesser ran 3:47.22 in the main 1500m race, Tim Crowe was second in 400m hurdles in 52.81, Eoin Everard won the 800m in 1:53.40, while Paul Robinson just missed out in another 1500m with a time of 3:53.84. Of the women, Amy Foster won the 100m in 11.58 and Mairead Murphy the 100m hurdles in 13.70. All these times were wind-assisted. Over 3000m, Mary Cullen was just pipped for victory clocking 9:08.39, while Kerry Harty won the steeplechase in 10:24.14.
On the summer’s evening of June 1, 1961, an historic athletics match took place in College Park, between UCD and Trinity College. Because of the “split” in Irish athletics, it had taken 25 years to stage this first ever “colours” match between the two universities. From this initial breaking down of barriers sprung the Intervarsity Championships at Pearse Stadium Galway in May 1962 and the formation of BLE, the forerunner of the Athletics Association of Ireland, in 1967.
To celebrate the golden jubilee of the “Colours”, a special dinner will take place on June 1 in Dublin’s Davenport Hotel, with some of the athletes who took part in that historic track meet attending. College athletes from down the years are welcome; contact Cyril Smyth at 01-8964119/csmyth@tcd.ie for further info.
Angela McCann, winner of the W40 half marathon, proved the star of the Irish team at the European Road Racing Masters Championships in Thionville, France. Angela, who runs a Meet and Train women’s group in Clonmel, won the race in a personal best time of 79 minutes 36 seconds.
Also in winning form was Kilcock’s Bobby King who won the M65 10km walk. Taking silver medals were Mick Byrne M50 half marathon and Sean McMullin M65 30km walk. The six bronze medal winners were Evelyn McNelis W65, Anne Woodlock W70 and Mick Byrne M50 in the 10km; Tracy Guilfoyle W45 and Pat O’Shea M60 in the half marathon, and Pat Murphy M50 in the 10km race walk.
Sandymount strand was the venue for the BHAA ESB 5km, which attracted a record entry of 270. Among them were former Irish sprint record holder Michele Carroll and an employee of the Saudi Arabian embassy. Up front, Matt Kane from Google was was the clear winner in 16 mins 7 secs, with Paul Gibbons, second and veteran Paul Cowhie beating Mick Traynor for third place and first M45. Taking the M40 prize was Noel Cullen in 12th place. Fiona Mahon was first woman home in 18 mins 40 seconds, followed by Laura Shaughnessy and Orla Gormley. Next up is the Social Welfare/Govt Services 5-Mile, in Dunboyne, Co Meath next Tuesday evening.
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