A grand total of five Irish athletes ran inside the Rio ’16 qualifying standards at the Berlin Marathon.
Leading them home was Kevin Seaward of St Malachy’s in Belfast in a superb new personal best of 2 hrs 14 mins 54 secs. Seaward had trailed the other Irish at 10km, but speeded up in the final stages of the races. “I thought I’d run around 2:15 – I didn’t think I could go inside that, so it’s pleasant surprise. I’m absolutely delighted.”
In the women’s race, Lizzie Lee of Leevale’s time of 2:32.51 also knocked chunks off her previous best time of 2:38.09 set at the 2013 Berlin Marathon. She’s now fifth on the all-time Irish list, with Catherina McKiernan’s 2:22.23 set in 1998 still the Irish record. Lee had been aiming for a time of 2 hrs 33 mins. “I’m absolutely blown out of the park. The last two miles were the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
Also comfortably inside the men’s 2 hours 17 minutes qualifying standard were Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe in 2:15.14, Raheny’s Mick Clohisey in 2:15.35 and Paul Pollock of Annadale who finished in 2:15.38.
“There was a great group and we worked together,” said Sergiu Ciobanu, a former Irish marathon champion. “I started to struggle for the last 10 to 12 kilometres, so I am delighted to finish second Irishman.”
Clohisey, who had narrowly failed to go under 2 hrs 17 secs in his marathon debut at Rotterdam earlier this year was thrilled with his new personal best time. “I thought I might be able to pick it up in the second half of the race, but I slowed a bit and started to struggle.”
Paul Pollock, who had been battling injury, had hoped to nail down his Rio place by breaking 2 hrs 15 mins. “I’m gutted to have finished fourth Irishman. I’ll have to sit down and re-assess and probably do a spring marathon.”
With only three places on offer for Rio next year, the selectors now have the luxury of choice – and Pollock may not be the only one contemplating a spring marathon.
Just missing out in Berlin was Galway’s Gary Thornton who ran 2:17.19 and Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham WSAF with a time of 2:17.48. They now face the difficult decision on whether to chase the qualifying mark next spring, as do Raheny’s Mark Kirwan, who ran 2:19.30 and the trio of Gary Murray, Mark Hanrahan and Thomas Fitzpatrick, who were all on target to break 2 hrs 17 mins but faded badly in the later stages of the race. Rumour has it that Sergiu Ciobnau and Sean Hehir are contemplating running the Dublin Marathon.
Already inside the women’s qualifying mark of 2 hours 42 minutes is Breege Connolly of North Belfast Harriers who ran 2:37.29 in London last April. Fionnuala McCormack (Britton) will run the Chicago Marathon on October 11, while DSD’s Maria McCambridge goes in the Frankfurt Marathon on October 25.
- There was an Irish winner in Berlin. Inishowen’s Paraic McKinney won the M50 class with a superb time of 2:30.32. Paraic was aiming for Tommy Hughes’ Irish record of 2:29.43 set in the 2012 Belfast Marathon – just a week after he had run 2:29.55 in London.
JOHN TRAVERS of Donore and Finn Valley’s Teresa Doherty were the winners of the Rathfarnham 5km held in glorious sunshine.
BARBARA SANCHEZ of Clonliffe finished 10th woman (or maybe 10th French woman?) in the 28th Paris-Versailles 16km with a time of 59 mins 31 secs. Ethiopians won both men and women’s titles; David Fikasu Admassu led home the 25,000 strong field in 47 mins 42 secs, while Sutume Asefa Kedebe was first woman in 54 mins 20 secs.
SLI CUALANN’S junior women took bronze at the European Champions Clubs Cup Junior Group B in Leiria, Portugal on September 19. A storming 4x400m relay moved them up to third position. Performer of the day was Emma O’Brien, who won the 1500m, before putting in a valiant leg on the 4x400m in 30 degree heat.
Sunday September 27
Berlin Marathon – Irish times:
Men – 21 Kevin Seaward (St Malachy’s) 2:14.54, 24 Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe) 2:15.14, 29 Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock) 2:15.35, 30 Paul Pollock (Annadale) 2:15.38, 39 Gary Thornton (Galway City Hrs) 2:17.19, 41 Sean Hehir (Rathfarnham WSAF) 2:17.48, 48 Mark Kirwan (Raheny Shamrock) 2:19.30, 54 Gary Murray (Clonliffe) 2:21.09, 55 Mark Hanrahan (Leevale) 2:21.13, 60 Thomas Fitzpatrick (Tallaght) 2:22.18, 96 Martin Hoare (Celbridge AC) 2:26.49, 106 Brian Murphy (Iveagh,M35) 2:27.05, 107 Declan Reed (City of Derry, M40) 2:27.16 Also: M50 – 1 Pauric McKinney (Inishowen, M50) 2:30.32. Women – 17 Lizzie Lee (Leevale) 2:32.51.
New Ireland Rathfarnham 5km (903 finishers; www.precisiontiming.net)
Men – 1 John Travers (Donore) 14.21, 2 Brandon Hargreaves (DSD) 14.37, 3 Brian Maher (KCH) 14.51, 4 Colm Sheahan (Leevale) 14.56, 5 Tom Moran (Dunshaughlin) 14.49, 6 Barry Harron ( Finn Valley) 15.03. M40: 1 Ciaran Doherty (Letterkenny) 15.12, 2 Conor Curran 15.33, 3 Paul Fleming (Rathfarnham WSAF) 16.00. M45: 1 James McCormack (Portlaoise) 16.51, 2 Peter Casey 17.09, 3 Peter Gray 17.35. M50: 1 Paul Cowhie (Civil Service AC) 16.23, 2 Aengus Burke (Portlaoise) 16.24, 3 Ray Thornberry (DSD) 17.59. M55: 1 Tom Cuddy (Rathfarnham WSAF) 19.28, 2 Tom Ryan 19.29, 3 Martin kelly 19.54. M60: 1 Andrew McLinden ( Hamilton Hrs, Sco) 18.22, 2 Terry Kavanagh (Sli Cualann) 19.37, 3 Conor Cooney (Drogheda and Dist) 20.23. Jun: 1 Padraig Moran (Mullingar Hrs) 15.09, 2 Matt Doherty (Derry City TC) 15.47, 3 Leuan Hopkins (Bros Pearse) 17.20. Teams (18) – 1 Donore Harriers 19, 2 Rathfarnham WSAF 43, 3 Waterford AC 86.
Women: 1 Teresa Doherty (Finn Valley) 16.27, 2 Caroline Crowley (Crusaders) 16.34, 3 Orla Drumm (Crusaders) 16.43, 4 Charlotte Kearney (Donadea) 17.18, 5 Rachael Smyth (St Coca’s) 17.33, 6 Sinead Whitelaw (Mullingar Hrs) 17.40. W40: 1 Sinead Eacrett (St Michael’s) 18.26, 2 Pippa Hackett (St Michael’s) 19.00, 3 Barbara Murray (Donore) 19.17. W45: 1 Annette Kealy (Raheny) 17.48, 2 Maria Dolan (Rathfarnham WSAF) 18.38, 3 Deirdre Fitzsimons (Dunboyne) 21.29. W50: 1 Martina Smith 21.16, 2 Sharon McGrane 21.33, 3 Fiona Byrne (DCH) 21.44. W55: 1 Sheelagh Jones (DSD) 20.47, 2 Nuala Reilly (Drogheda & Dist) 21.18, 3 Linda Finnegan (DSD) 21.53. W60: 1 Carmel Mac Domhnaill (Limerick) 21.51, 2 Mags McCreary (Civil Service) 22.34, 3 Mary Butler (Blackrock AC) 22.43. W75: Anne Woodlock (Donore) 27.21. Jun: 1 Louise Stack (Portlaoise) 18.38, 2 Caitlin McDarby (St Michael’s) 20.29, 3 Anna Healy (Portlaoise) 21.07. Teams (10) – 1 Crusaders 21, 2 Donore Hrs 43, 3 DSD 54
Naas Town Charity 10km (395 finishers; www.precisiontiming.net)
Men: 1 Ian Kiprono (Newbridge AC) 31.20, 2 Brian Kirwan (SLOT) 33.11, 3 Myles Gibbons (SBR) 33.39, 4 David Fitzpatrick (Tallaght AC) 33.37, 5 Mariusz Olejniczak (Naas Tri Club) 34.47, 6 Patrick Malone (Newbridge) 35.47.
Women: 1 Laura McDonnell (Tallaght) 38.00, 2 Hannah Foterhgill 38.41, 3 Bronagh Adams 39.33, 4 Michelle Cox (Newbridge) 42.56, 5 Victoria Dowling 43.95, 6 Gillian Clyne 44.01.
Kilmacow Cross-Country, Co. Kilkenny
Men – Senior: 1 Kevin Maunsell (Clonmel), 2 W Maunsell (Clonmel), 3 D McGlynn (Waterford, MJ). U18: O O’Flaherty (SLOT). Women – Senior: 1 Adele Walsh (St Senan’s), 2 E Kennedy (Gowran), 3Junior 1 M McDonald (St Senan’s, WJ).U18: A Hamilton (West Waterford); Best Juvenile Club: Thomastown.
Cork Women’s Mini Marathon 3.9mile, Cork.
1 Michelle Finn (Leevale) 21.26, 2 Martina Kiely ( St Finbarr’s) 22.10, 3 Aoife Cooke (Youghal) 22.19, 4 Sinead O’Connor (Leevale) 22.38, 5 Niamh Moore (Leevale) 23.35, 6 Niamh Roe (Leevale) 23.39, 7 Carol Finn (Leevale) 24.00, 8 Carmell Parnell (Leevale, W60) 24.23, 9 Mary Sweeney (St Finbarr’s, W55) 25.11.
Run West Mayo Ballyhaunis 8km (65 finishers; www.precisiontiming.net)
Men: 1 Taadgh McGinty (Swinford AC, MJ) 28.07, 2 Brnedna Hession 28.55, 3 Joseph Wagacha (Ballyhaunis, MJ) 30.31. Women: 1 Collette Tuohy (Mayo AC) 30.48, 2 Kathy Gleeson (W40) 31.24, 3 Angela O’Connor (Mayo AC, W50) 33.18.
Saturday September 26
Stacks Pharmacy Group Moone Kilomarathon and 10km, Co Kildare (www.totaltiming.ie)
Kilomarathon (159 finishers) – Men: 1 Tudor Moldovan (Clonliffe) 1 hrs 32 mins 19 secs, 2 Mick Boyle (Taheny Shamrock) 1;33.46, 3 Gary Condon (Sli Cualann) 1:34.42, 4 Dermot Gorman (Raheny Shamrock) 1:37.15, 5 Brian Murphy (Carrick-on-Suir AC) 1:39.38, 6 Stephen Connon (Bros Pearse) 1:40.32. M40: Ray Keny (Parnell AC) 1:48.02. M45: Bernard Weldon (St Michael’s AC) 1:52.26. M55: Derek Hayes (Sli Cualann) 1:49.09.
Women: 1 Karen Clarke (Bros Pearse) 2:01.58, 2 Annemarie Kenny (Parnell AC) 2:02.29, 3 Irene Clark 2:11.39, 4 Aisling Hegarty (W45) 2:12.52, 5 Rachel Burgess (St Brigid’s AC) 2:13.41, 6 Liz Leanaord (Limerick TC, W50) 2:14.03.
10km (199 finishers) – Men: 1 Brian Kirwan (SLOT) 34.01, 2 Pat Purcell (KCH) 37.52, 3 Conor D’Arcy (KCH) 38.00. Women: 1 Maria Snell 39.07, 2 Sharon Tighe (Tallaght AC) 43.28, 3 Jacqui Boyle (Tallaght AC) 44.31.
Killarney 10-Mile, Co Kerry www.killarney10mile.com.
Men: 1 D O’Callaghan (Ríocht) 55:32, 2 T Harty (Ríocht) 56:10, 3 S O’Sullivan (Ríocht) 56:23, 4 D Smith (Ballynonty) 57:25, 5 S Mangan (Gneeveguilla) 59:11, 6 D Watkins (M40) 61:16, 7 M Crowley 62:13, 8 M40: 2 K O’Shea 62:27, 3 D O’Malley 66:12. M45: 1 R Whyte (Kenmare) 62:20.2 S Murphy (Gneeveguilla) 63:11, 3 F O’Meara (Midleton) 67:13. M50: A Courtney 72:58.
Women: 1 AM Holland (Youghal, W40) 62:44, 2 C Barry (Farranfore-MV, W40) 67:04, 3 S Daly (Gneeveguilla) 68:44, 4 H Gilroy (Midleton, W45) 69:25, 5 A Kirwan (Star of the Laune) 69:51, 6 L Brennan (Sligo, W50) 70:05.
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