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| Lots of club vests at WMM – great to see. |
Caitriona Jennings of Rathfarnham WSAF, who has qualified for the marathon at the London Olympics, produced the run of the weekend when she finished fifth overall at the Newry Half Marathon in an excellent personal best time of 75 minutes 29 seconds.
That time knocked over two minutes off her previous best time of 77 mins 48 secs and followed a three-week period of warm weather training in Portugal with Linda Byrne.
It meant that Jennings did not defend her title at the Women’s Mini Marathon on Monday as had been speculated, leaving Linda Byrne of host club Dundrum South Dublin to put in something of a solo run.
Byrne’s winning time of 33 mins 29 secs wasn’t her best – she ran 32 mins 52 secs earlier this year in Enniscorthy – but was exactly a minute faster than her 2010 time when she was chased to the line by Maria McCambridge.
It was also the fastest mini marathon time in five years, though some way off Sonia O’Sullivan’s course record of 31 mins 28 secs, set in 2000 – the year Sonia took Olympic silver for the 5000m.
Byrne, wearing No 1, had built up a substantial lead by the half way mark at Nutley Lane. A chasing pack included Fiona Roche and Siobhan O’Doherty , who ended up second in 35 mins 20 secs.
Not far behind were Breege Connolly, the 2009 winner Annette Kealy and the great Catherina McKiernan, a four times winner of the race, now in the over 40 class.
Elsewhere, Kenyan athlete Freddy Keron Sittok ran a new course record of 2 hrs 22 mins 12 secs to win this morning’s Cork City Marathon. Sittok (or Kearon, or Kiron, or Sittuk) has been showing up at a number of races on this island for the past couple of months. He was fifth in the Belfast Marathon and was notoriously misdirected while winning the Kildare Marathon. A fortnight ago, he won the Belfast City Airport 5km.
Previous winner Clonliffe’s Sergiu Ciobanu in second place was also inside his own course record for the Cork course. Angela McCann defended her women’s title, finishing in 2:53.02. Gary O’Hanlon of Clonliffe and Leevale’s Lizzie Lee won the half marathon.
Dave Donegan and Ian Rogers of Clonliffe finished first and second in the pole vault at today’s Northern Ireland Track and Field Championships in the Antrim Forum. Donegan with 4.90m took the title with Rogers second on 4.45m. Donegan is getting back to his best and aiming to improve his PB of 5.00m in the coming weeks.
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| Masters 1500m at Leinster T-F |
At the Leinster Track and Field Championships, Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham had a good in the in the 5000m, with Raheny’s Simon Ryan second. DSD’s Sinead Denny won both the 400m and 800m, while Paul Fleming of Rathfarnham was an impressive winner of the masters’ 1500m. Brow Rangers veteran Joe Kelly won the shot, discus, hammer and 56lb in the over 40 age group.
* Tullamore and the Antrim Stadium are the venues for the opening round of the National League on Sunday. Defending champions are the Clonliffe men and the DSD women.
A stunning 830 runners of all ages completed the Pat Finnerty 5km League, organised by Mullingar Harriers in the gorgeous setting of Belvedere House. Particularly impressive was the number of young athletes taking part in the runs, often alongside their parents. With the best three results from five counting, local man Vinny Connolly was the clear overall winner of the men’s prize. Fiona Mahon of Dunshaughlin best of the women.
Anyone who enjoys the unique atmosphere of country races is spoiled for choice this weekend. On Saturday evening (7.30pm), Bohermeen in Co Meath hosts the Patrick Bell 5km. You run your race and then you sit around to enjoy the post-race barbeque, with turf fires to keep you warm and music to get you dancing.
In Kilmacow, Co Kilkenny, on Sunday (2pm) the Little South Run takes place on a fast four-mile course around the village and surroundings roads, including the lovely Lacey’s Cross. Joe Sweeney of DSD holds the course record of 18 mins 36 secs, but while the speedsters chase the winners cheque of €500, many others will find time to take in the views.
Country racing – the most fun you can have with your trainers on!
Want to keep an eye on your fitness over the summer? Starting next Tuesday in Dublin is the annual Lord Mayor of Raheny 2-mile Series, with 12 rounds between now and the end of August. Entry is €7 per race or €50 for 12-race series. Register at the Raheny Shamrock clubhouse (behind the scouts’ den). Also open for entry is the annual Raheny Midsummer 5km in St Anne’s Park on Sunday June 17 (11am). Entry €15.
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