*New York Marathon cancelled!
So how was Monday’s Dublin Marathon for you? Up front, Paul Pollock made a brilliant debut when he won the Irish men’s title in 2 hours 16 minutes 30 seconds.
Pollock ran the bravest of races although his supporters anxiously watching their Twitter feeds felt a flutter of fear when he took the lead at around the eight-mile mark.
Although caught soon after by the trio who would fight it out for the top three places, Pollock hung on. He finished a disciplined ninth overall in the fastest time recorded by an Irishman in Dublin since Gerry Healy ran 2:15.37 for second place in 1999.
Maria McCambridge’s time of 2:35.28 for seventh place overall was a new Irish record for Dublin, beating Sonia O’Sullivan’s winning time of 2:35.42 from 2000. It was also a personal best for the Dubliner by a single second.
Most impressive was the maturity of McCambridge’s run. From the start, she set her own pace, not panicking when the leaders broke away at 10km and keeping an absolutely even pace through the race.
Based on Monday’s results, Dublin Marathon race director Jim Aughney has every reason to be pleased with the success of the Marathon Mission project, organised in conjunction with Athletics Ireland and funded by the marathon surplus.
As well as the wins for Pollock and McCambridge, Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham WSAF ran 2:17.35 in his debut over the distance. For third place, Barry Minnock, also Rathfarnham, was another to break the 2:20 barrier although his time of 2:18.46 was off his best set in Hanover earlier this year.
Of the women, 2009 champion Barbara Sanchez of Raheny finished second, while for third place, the ageless Pauline Curley beat her old friend and rival Annette Kealy.
On the course, the pavements were packed with supporters, armed with large food containers and foldaway chairs. Thanks to the absence of a title sponsor, the race was refreshingly free of “branding”. The supporters made up for it, with East Down draping their banner over the Belfield bridge and groups from Craughwell in Galway and Slaney Olympic in Wexford particularly visible.
This is a day that wouldn’t happen without the help of hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers. It’s no wonder that the people of Ireland have taken to their hearts. Long may it flourish!
First wheelchair finisher in the Dublin Marathon was Luke Jones from Wales in a respectable 2 hrs 3 mins 30 secs. Biggest cheers went to the great Jerry Forde from Blarney Iniscarra, probably the only wheelchair athlete in the world to have completed more than a hundred marathons. Jerry, now in the over 60 age group, finished in 3:38.34.
In the veteran classes, Pauric McKinney, from Donegal, running with Inishowen after many years with Letterkenny, won the over 45 title for a third when he finished in 2:33.18. McKinney first ran Dublin in 2000 when he finished second Irish – a feat he was to repeat six more times, most recently in 2009. Another notable performance came from SBR’s Tommy McElwaine, who has long had the knack of picking the women’s winner. This time he finished in 2:36.05, just behind Maria McCambridge.
Some 107 men and women made up this year’s Wicklow Hospice 100 team, including their leader Bill Porter, who finished in 3:18.40. Also running for Wicklow Hospice – an entirely voluntary charity – was Mary Nolan Hickey from Arklow – the only women who have run all Dublin Marathons to date. Mary’s aim was to break four hours and she did it in style finished third over 60 in 3:53.13.
Anne Keenan-Buckley has resigned as Irish cross-country manager. The much-respected former Olympic athlete had made plain her disillusionment with the high performance management structure at Athletics Ireland.
Since her appointment in 2006, Keenan-Buckley had presided over two outstanding Irish performances – the European U-23 cross-country title won by the Irish men two years ago and Fionnuala Britton’s victory in last year’s European Championships.
Teresa McDaid will take over as Irish manager for the European Cross-Country Championships in Budapest on December 9.
Dunboyne hosts the opening round of this year’s Meet and Train Women’s Winter League next Sunday November 4 (11am). This league, dating back to the early days of the women’s mini marathon, was established to give novice runners the incentive to keep training over the winter months. Four races take place between now and February. Other host clubs are Fingallians, Sportsworld and Lucan. A great way to stay fit in winter with members of keep fit groups particularly welcome.
Alistair Cragg was best of the Irish/Marathon Mission team at the Great South Run 10-Mile, finishing in 48 mins 25 secs. Tallaght’s Sean Connolly and Paddy Hamilton of Annadale both finished in 49:35, while Joe McAllister of St Malacahy’s ran 50.15.
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