Linda Byrne’s last minute decision to run the Rathfarnham 5km as her first race since the marathon at London 2012 proved worthwhile when she came home first of the women and took home the generous €400 cheque on offer to the race winners.
The Dundrum South Dublin athlete was chased all the way by transplanted Cork woman Olive Drumm, who now lives in Dublin and runs with Crusaders.
” I was down to do a tempo run today, so this suited me fine, although Orla pushed me hard – that first mile was savage,” said Byrne after her victory in a time of 16 minutes 11 seconds.
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| Mid-pack Rathfarnham 5km |
Her big aim for the winter is the European Cross-Country Championships in December. “We could have a good team – myself and Ava Hutchinson, along with Mary Cullen, who’s back training, and of course, Fionnuala Britton,” she says. Britton won the European title last year and will defend her title in Budapest, Hungary.
Byrne had found the marathon in London – only her second ever – challenging. “It was three laps of a very twisty course and the heavy rain made it slippery. Still I’m pleased enough with how I did. I’ll run a spring marathon next year and hope to get closer to 2 hours 30 minutes.”
Finishing third of the women was Donore’s Barbara Cleary, with Theresa McGloin fourth and Hannah Dalton of Templeogue the first junior.
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| Brendan Earley |
In the men’s race, Dunshaughlin junior Thomas Moran almost caused a sensational upset when he sprinted to the line in tandem with Dunleer’s experienced Martin Quinn. Quinn got it by a whisker, winning in 15 minutes, with Moran, who is studying in UCD, one second behind and Raheny’s Cillian O’Leary just beating Thomas Hayes of Kilkenny for third.
A record entry of 1,200 had signed up for the race with the oldest of them Civil Service’s Brendan Earley. Brendan, who admits to being “over 80”, still runs about 30 miles a week spread over six days.
“Getting slower all the time!” he says, with a grin. He still finished far from last of the 1,015 finishers. A true inspiration!
Clonliffe’s Sergiu Ciobanu laid down his colours for next month’s Dublin Marathon when he won the Charleville Half Marathon in 65 minutes 05 seconds. For second place, Rathfarnham’s Sean Hehir ran a personal best 65 mins 31 secs, while third was Paddy Hamilton of Annadale in 67 minutes.
Maria McCambridge of Letterkenny was first woman in 73 mins 04 secs, followed by Barbara Sanchez 76 mins 04. Even more remarkable was the achievement of McCambridge’s husband Gary Crossan. He finished in 76 mins 43 secs, pushing son Dylan all the way. Can this be a record?
* Sean Hehir tells us that Gary ran that time despite the Dylan-mobile getting a puncture at 4 miles!
* Sean Hehir tells us that Gary ran that time despite the Dylan-mobile getting a puncture at 4 miles!
Robbie Matthews of Dunshaughlin took the scalp of Star of the Sea’s Colin Costello at the Star of the Sea Cross-Country in Stamullen, Co Meath – for many club athletes, the unofficial launch of the cross-country season. In the women’s race, DSD junior Sarah Fitzpatrick beat Annalee’s Clodagh O’Reilly. Nuala Reilly and Conor Cooney of Drogheda and District made the quick dash from Rathfarnham to Stamullen, where they both picked up their second age group prizes of the day.
Not content with winning the Rathfarnham 5km earlier in the day, Dunleer’s Martin Quinn dropped into the Land of Legends Cross-Country 8km in Drogheda on his way home and then won it. The race was a fundraiser for the Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre. Martin had started a busy weekend with victory in the Streets of Monaghan 5km on Friday evening, where Nuala Reilly and Conor Cooney also won their age groups.
Gary Thornton was a clear winner of the Grey Lake 10km in Loughrea in 31 mins 10 secs; at the Kilsheelin 10km in Co Tipperary, Ferrybank’s Patrick Hogan was first home in 31 mins 47 secs, while in Belfast, Conor Murphy won the Decathlon 10km in 31 mins 49 secs.
For schools athletes, the track and field season finally ends with Saturday’s Aviva All Ireland Schools Combined Events Championships at Santry (10am).
Battle of the day is likely to come in the boys’ inter competition, where Leinster champion Mark Rogers of St Joseph’s Drogheda takes on Sam Healy of Carrigaline CS, the Munster champion. Both will pick up big points in the high jump, while Hand is a strong hurdler. In the inter girl’s event, Leinster champion Amy McTeggart of Our Lady’s Terenue can expect a showdown with Munster champion Grace McKenzie of Scoil Mhuire Crosshaven. Belvedere’s Luke Bellintani goes in the junior boys’ event.
Results Round-Up Fri Sept 21- Wed Sept 26 added here (post disappeared)
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