Fionnuala McCormack (Britton) made the qualifying time for next year’s Rio Olympics when she ran a time of 2 hrs 33 mins 15 secs at today’s hicago Marathon.
Although well inside the Olympic qualifying mark of 2 hours 42 minutes, her time was slower than the 2 hours 31 minutes 46 seconds she ran for tenth place in her debut marathon at the European Championships in Zurich just over a year ago. 
McCormack started off brightly, clocking a time of 17 minutes 27 seconds at 5km. Had she maintained this pace, she would have broken 2 hours 30 seconds. Unfortunately, the conditions, including a stiff breeze, were far from ideal and she began slowing. She went through the half way mark in 75 minutes 9 seconds – well off her 71 minutes 33 seconds from the Lille Half Marathon last month. On the plus side, while the race was run without pacemakers and times generally were slow, it was valuable experience for Rio. Winner was Kenya’s Florence Kiplagat in 2:23.33. Overall winner of the race was Kenya’s Dickson Chumba in 2:09.25.
Lizzie Lee remains the fastest Irish qualifier for Rio with her time of 2:32:51 in Berlin. Breege Connolly of North Belfast Harriers also has an Olympic qualifying time of 2:37.29 from the London Marathon of last April. DSD’s Maria McCambridge will chase the time at the Frankfurt on October 25.
McCormack 5km splits times – 17.27, 17.41, 17.54, 18.03, 18.07, 18.13, 18.33, 18.48. 10km 35:08; halfway 75.09.
GALWAY’S Sean Breathnach won both the M35 shot and discus at the European Masters Games in Nice, France. He won the discus with a best of 47.18m and then dominated the shot, with a best of 17.28m – almost three metres better than anyone else. After a brilliant season, where he has won Irish indoor and outdoor senior titles and improved his best throws in both events, Breathnach is aiming to break the 18m barrier – and maybe even the Irish indoors record of 18.07m – for the shot over the next few months.
BEN THISTLEWOOD and Michelle Finn made it a Leevale double at the Cork Senior Cross-Country-Championships in Carrigadrohid. Leevale was also first of the teams in both races.
CATHERINA MCKIERNAN was first woman at her own Run with Catherina 10km in Cavan town, with Cian O’Reilly leading home the race. Daughter Dearbhaile O’Reilly was first woman in the 5km fun run.
Sunday October 10
Cork C-C Championships, Carrigadrohid, Macroom, Co Cork
Men‘s 10km:1 Ben Thistlewood (Leevale) 34:20, 2 Michael Harty (East Cork) 34:23, 3 Tim O’Donoghue (East Cork) 34:52, 4 Brian McMahon (Clonliffe, guest) 35:16, 5 Eric Curran (Leevale) 35:20, 6 John Shine (Leevale) 35:41. Teams – 1 Leevale (1, 4, 5, 7) 17, 2 East Cork (2, 3, 9, 14) 28, 3 St Finbarr’s (6, 10, 13, 15) 44;
Women‘s 6km: 1 Michelle Finn (Leevale) 22:16, 2 Martina Kiely (St Finbarr’s) 22:54, 3 Sinead O’Connor (Leevale) 23:01, 4 Aoife Cooke (Youghal) 23:14, 5 Carol Finn (Leevale) 24:28, 6 Niamh Roe (Leevale) 24:36. Teams – 1 Leevale (1, 3, 5, 6) 15, 2 Youghal (4, 8, 10, 14) 36, 3 St Finbarr’s (2, 13, 15, 18) 48.
Run with Catherina 10km/5km, Cavan Town. www.runwithcatherina.ie
10km (173 finishers) – Men: 1 Cian O’Reilly (Annalee) 32.02, 2 Brian McCluskey (North East Runners, M35) 32.20, 3 John Whelan (Shercock, M35) 34.23, 4 Shane Brady (Clones AC) 34.27, 5 Eddie Newman (Mullingar Hrs, M45) 35.00, 6 Killian Heery (Bailieborough AC) 35.15.
Women: 1 Catherina McKiernan (W45) 35.33, 2 Fionnuala Mullen 37.42, 3 Brid McCormack (Cavan TC) 40.20, 4 Clodagh O’Reilly (Annalee) 40.31, 5 Teresa McDermott (Kilgarry Running Club, W45) 43.30. 6 Nuala Reilly (Drogheda & Dist, W55) 43.36.
5km (457 finishers) – Men: 1 Enda Henry 17.25, 2 Paul Farrell (M35) 17.40, 3 Louis Courtney ( Annalee) 17.51. Women: 1 Dearbhaile O’Reilly (MSB, W14) 19.54, 2 Enya Kiernan (Annalee, W16) 20.04, 3 Eimear O’Leary 20.40.
Solas Centre Run for Life 10-Mile, Co Waterford (730 finishers; www.totaltiming.ie).
Men: 1 Frank Quinlan (Waterford) 57:19, 2 Martin Monaghan (SBR) 57:53, 3 Paul Moran (KCH) 58:47. Women: 1 Adele Walsh (St Senan’s) 64:45, 2 Sally Forristal (St Joseph’s) 65:11, 3 Eimear McGuinness 68:05.
Breaffy GAA 10km, Final Race Vodafone Mayo AC 2015 Move2Improve Series
(104 finishers) full results www.mayoac.com
Men 1:Matt Bidwell (GCH) 32:43, 2 Richard Gorman (Sligo AC)) 33:20: 3: David Tiernan (Mayo AC) 35:22. M50: 050 Michael Sweeney (Mayo AC) 42:27.
Women: 1 Colette Tuohy, (Mayo AC) 39:09; 2 Kathy Gleeson, 39:37, 3 Paula Prendergast (Mayo AC) 40:16. W50: Angela O’Connor W50 (Mayo AC) 44:32.
Donegal Novice C-C
Women: 1 Nikita Burke (Letterkenny), 2 Stacy Dolan (Finn Valley), 3 Jane McGinley (Letterkenny). Teams – 1 Letterkenny 15, 2 Finn Valley 36. Men (tbc): 1 Martin McPaul (FV), 2 Dermot McElchair (FV), 3 Daniel Hannigan (LAC). Teams – 1 Fivv Valley , 2 Letterkenny 58, 3 Rosses AC 59.
Saturday October 10
Donadea 10km, Co Kildare. www.donadearunningclub.com.
Men: 1 Ian Kiprono 31:08, 2 Sean Hehir (Rathfarnham WSAF) 31.14, 3 Lee van Haeften 9Donore) 32.44, 4 Brian Furey (Rathfarnham WSAF) 34.44, 5 Martain Hoare 35.16, 6 Ronan Kearns (Rathfarnhwam WSAF, M35) 35.28.
Women: 1 Sarah Mulligan (DSD) 35.56, 2 Charlotte Kearney (Donadea Runners, W35) 37.15, 3 Laura McDonnell (Tallaght) 38.08, 4 Bronagh Adams 39.27, 5 Rachel Wisdom 40:39, 6 Helen White 43.49.
NUI Galway/Kingfisher Fitness Club Charity 8km (526 finishers; www.redtagtiming.com)
Men: 1 John Greaney 7.11, 2 Patrick Hynes-Foy (NUIG) 28.13, 3 Mark Walsh 28.29. Women: Gillian Bogan 33.40, 2 Ciara O’Sullivan (NUIG) 34.24, 3 Michelle Maher (NUIG) 34.38.
Rás Charna 10km, Connemara, Co Galway (424 finishers; www.redtagtiming)
Men: 1 Robert Malseed (M40) 35.19, 2 Richard Farnan 37.09, 3 Peadar O Cathasaigh (M40) 37.16. Women: 1 Joanne O’Boyle 44.46, 2 Noreen Breathnach 46.04, 3 Barbara Brgin (W50) 46.29.
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