ROADS - ALMOST 12, 000 RUN DUBLIN HALF MARATHON Cillian Mooney (Dundrum South DublinAC) led home almost 12,000 finishers at the inaugural Dublin City Half Marathon held on Sunday (March 30) making it the third biggest road race in the city after the Dublin Marathon and the Women’s Mini Marathon. The race had sold out in just two hours a few months ago. Mooney, an Irish mountain running international, was a clear winner of the race in 65 min 40 secs, which was slower than the time of 64:43 he ran at the Naples Half Marathon in Italy last month. Other Dublin runners in the top twenty were was Stephen Cashin (Clonliffe Harriers) seventh, Michael Brady (Raheny Shamrock) 11th, Cillian O’Leary (Raheny Shamrock AC 13th and first M45, Ian Fitzgerald (Donore Harriers) 19th and Karl Nolan (Clonliffe Harriers) 20th and third M40. First M50 was Ruben Bartelink (DSD AC). In the women’s race, Noreen Brouder (Sportsworld AC) was second and first W45 in 81:42 and in the age groups, it was a good day for Raheny Shamrock AC. Fiona Stack was first W40 ahead of Olivia Sexton (Portmarnock AC), while Tara Kennedy was second over 50, Trish Fitzgerald third W60 and Mary Lynch first W70. For Lucan Harriers, Anne Whelan was second W60, Liz Arkins second W65 and Eileen O’Brien second W70 while for Blackrock AC, Grainne Grennan was first W70. Of the men, Philip O’Doherty (Clonliffe Harriers) was first M60, followed by Philip McGovern (Raheny Shamrock AC). Liam Lenehan (Sportsworld) AC) was second M65 and John Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock) second M70. Callum Marshall (Portmarnock AC) was first junior in 82:30. The race, which started on O’Connell Street at 8.30 am and took in much of Dublin’s Northside, was organised by the Dublin Marathon and Race Series team with the support of Dublin City Council. TRACK AND FIELD - OUTDOORS! At the TEN meeting, in San Juan Capistrano, California, Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers/Hoka) finished 12th in a time of 27 mins 26.95 secs, taking around 13 seconds off Alistair Cragg’s Irish 10,000m record of 27:39.55 set in 2007. ‘Hard work paying off. More to come’ said Gidey after his run. Winner was Kenyan athlete Israel Kipkurui in 26:50.21. The top five all broke 27 minutes. Gidey, still aged only twenty-four, now holds three Irish records - he ran 60:51 in the Copenhagen half marathon last September, and 27:43 in the Valencia 10km in January. Before his race in California, Gidey had been training at altitude with the Hoka group in Flagstaff Arizona under the supervision of coach Andrew Hobdell. Looking at his progress since 2023, it’s notable that he has struck to a routine, starting his year by running the Valencia 10km in early January. Last year, he had also raced in California, finishing sixth in the 10,000m with a time 27:53.14. He’s also a ‘regular’ at the Night of the 10,000m PBs in London, where he ran 27:40.02 for ninth place last May. Next up for Gidey is the inaugural European Running Championships in Leuven and Brussels, Belgium on April 12-13, where he will compete in the half marathon. He is the only Dublin club athlete on the team. At the Texas Relays in Austin, also on Saturday, Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC/Nike) opened her outdoor season anchoring the international team that won the pro 4 x400m relay in 3 mins 25.20 secs. Irish athletes were also in action at the Raleigh Relays in North Carolina, where, in the men’s 5000m, held over ten heats, Cormac Dixon (Tallaght AC) clocked a time of 13:57.99. Down Under, at the Mario Plant meet in Melbourne on Saturday (March 29) Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock AC) was seventh in the 5000m in 13:25.63. Two days earlier, also in Melbourne, Cillian Kirwan (Raheny Shamrock AC) clocked 1:48.37 for third place in an 800m race. In the women’s 800m, Nadia Power (Dublin City Harriers) finished second in 2:06.52. Marathon Paul O’Donnell (Dundrum South Dublin AC) ran a time of 2hrs 10 mins 17 secs in his marathon debut at the McKirdy Micro-The Road to Tokyo race in Rockland Lake State Park, Congers , New York State on Sunday (March 30). The time is the fifth fastest ever by an Irishman. O’Donnell finished fourth in the race which was won by Canadian athlete Justin Kent in 2:09.29. The World Championships mark for the marathon is 2:06.20, with only a hundred athletes set to make it. Current Irish record holder Hiko Tonosa,like O’Donnell a member of the Dundrum South Dublin club will run the Rotterdam Marathon on Sunday April 13 aiming to qualify. WORLD MASTERS A the World Masters Indoors in Gainesville, Florida, Edel Maguire (Clonliffe Harriers) won the W65 high jump in some style on Friday (March 28) and only narrowly missed out on a second gold in the 200m later in the day. She made up for that on Sunday (March 30) by winning the 400m in a world record time of 66.94 secs. So two golds and a silver for Edel! Other medal winners included Adina Gheoghiu (DSD AC/Romania) second in the W50 200m in 26. 41 secs, Shane Sheridan (DSD AC) 3rd M65 200m in 27.75, and Mick Traynor (Raheny Shamrock) who was part of the silver-medal winning M60 cross-country team. HILLS At the annual Maurice Mullins Ultra in the Wicklow Mountains on Saturday (March 29) Sean Meehan (Cherry Orchard RC) finished third in 4:40.51. Marc Fitzachary (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) was first M45 in 4:58.58. DUBLIN JUVENILES Emily Bolton (Clonliffe Harriers) added yet another gold medal to her collection when winning the U18 1500m at the National Juvenile Indoors held in Athlone over the weekend. Bolton finished in 4:48.55 with Megan Brunt (Blackrock AC) second in 4:51.83. Winning the U17 boys’ 1500m in 3:37.67 was Charlie O’Neill (Donore Harriers). In the girls’ U17 age group, Mia Brett (MSB AC) won the 400m in 58.12, Alicja Doyle (Clongriffin AC) the 60m in 7.53 and Marianne O’Farrell (Clongriffin AC) the long jump with a 4.92 effort. On the opening day of the meet, Des O’Neill (Raheny Shamrock AC) won the U19 boys’ 60m hurdles. Other good results came from - U17 - Boys: 200m, 2 Luis Blinco (MSB AC) 22.42; 800m 3 Charlie O’Neill (Donore Harriers) 1:56.77. Girls: High jump, 3 Zion Osasenaga Osawe (Donore Harriers) 1.55. U18 - Boys: 60m, 3 Dubem Amah (Tallaght AC) 7.00; 200m, 2 Sean O’Donnell (Tallaght AC) 22.02. 1500m, 2 Odhran McBrearty (Crusaders AC) 4:06.52. Long jump, 3 Brendan Solarin (Tallaght AC) 6.15. Girls: 60m, 2 Chidinma Adikaibe (MSB AC) 7.73; 400m, 2 Alannah Giles (DSD AC) 57.30; long jump, 2 Ariana Silvestre (Fingallians AC) 5.03m. U19 - Boys: 400m, 2 Andrew Hayes (DSD AC) 49.43; 1500m, 3 Rory Quill (Clonliffe Harriers) 4:01. Girls: 1500m, 2 Saoirse Fitzgerald (Lucan Harriers) 4:31.74; 60m hurdles, 2 Abigail Farrell (Donore Harries)

SOLID SIXTH IN WORLDS FOR SARAH Sarah Healy (UCD AC), who had memorably won the 3000m at the European Indoors, was again lining out over the 3000m in Nanjing , where she finished a fighting sixth and first European in a highly respectable time of 8 mins 40 secs. Healy was lying fifth for much of the race and moved briefly into fourth place in the later stages of the race, only losing ground in the chase for the line. She admitted after the race that she was a bit too far back to make up the gap. Healy can still look back with some satisfaction on an indoors season that saw her break Irish 1500m and 3000m records as well as winning her first ever senior international gold medal. Roll on the summer! DONORE TAKES NATIONAL 10KM TITLE A strong team from Donore Harriers took the men’s national team title at the Dunboyne 10km on Sunday, with the race incorporating the National 10km Championships. Leading the team home was John Travers who finished ninth in 30:02 with his clubmate, Gavin Curtin finishing just one place behind in a time of 30:10. Kane Collin and Eric Keogh made up the scoring quartet with all home inside the top thirty. CNDR TC from Belfast was second and Raheny Shamrock, led by Shane Spring in 16th place, third. Dublin City Harriers were fourth. In the women’s team competition, the Dublin City Harriers’ trio of Orla Duffy, Sorcha McAllister and Bonnie-may McFeat finished third team behind Leevale AC from Cork and Mullingar Harriers. Dundrum South Dublin was fourth, Crusaders fifth and Metro St Brigid’s AC sixth. In the masters’ team categories, Brothers Pearse, led by Pauline Robertson, won the over 50 women’s category, followed by Rathfarnham WSAF. In the over 35 age category, there were third places for the Rathfarnham WSAF AC men and the Metro St Brigid’s AC women. In a race which saw wins for Jack O’Leary (Mullingar Harriers) and Niamh Allen (Leevale AC), Pierre Murchan (Dublin City Harriers) was the first Dublin club athlete home, finishing third overall in 29:31. Not far behind was Colm Rooney (Clonliffe Harriers) who was fourth and first M40 in 29:42. Also breaking 30 minutes was Killian Mooney (Dundrum South Dublin AC) who finished eighth in 29:54. Of the women, Emma McEvoy (Dundrum South Dublin AC) finished sixth in 33:52, while Orla Duffy (Dublin City Harriers) was ninth in 34:35 and her clubmate Sorcha McAllister one place behind in 34:36. Among the national master category winners were Cillian O’Leary (Raheny Shamrock AC) M45, Noreen Brouder (Sportsworld AC) W45, Maria Dolan (Raheny Shamrock AC) W55, Sheelagh Jones (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) W65, and Tom Cuddy (Rathfarnham WSADF AC) M65 with Liam Lenehan (Sportsworld AC) second in that age group. GAOLBREAK WIN FOR KEEGAN In Wicklow, Darren Keegan (Donore Harriers) was the winner of the Wicklow Gaol Half Marathon in a time of 76 mins 6 secs. Kahumburuka Tuahuku (Tallaght AC) was fourth in 79:43, Garret Loy (Clonliffe Harriers), ninth overall and second M50 in 83:50, Dan Glynn (Brothers Pearse AC) second M50 in 89:34 and Daniele Ciupac (Civil Service Harriers) fifth woman in 94:47. SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY Helping the Irish teams to the runners-up position in all four races at the annual SIAB Schools International Cross-Country held in Falkirk, Scotland on Saturday (March 22) were a number of athletes from Dublin schools. Best result came from Charlie O’Neill (Belvedere College) who finished a fighting seventh in the boys’ U17 race. Other in action were Samuel Redmond (Templeogue College) U15 boys, Ruby Farrelly (Our Lady’s Templeogue) and Elizabeth Reamsbottom (Santa Sabina) U15 girls, and Megan Brunt (Loreto Dalkey) and Tara Rose Smith (Sutton Park) both U17 girls. TRACK AND FIELD -LOCAL Although Kildare raiders took the bulk of the wins at the Dundrum South Dublin Juvenile Throws Meet, Dublin athletes Harry Moylan (Crusaders AC) U18 boys, and Adona Zewdie (DSD AC) U17 girls won their shot put competition, held at the Tibradden Road track on Saturday. Good humour prevailed at the meet, although all the young athletes (and officials!) got a thorough soaking in the less than clement conditions. Boys - Javelin - U16 (600g): 1 Noah Treacy (Kildare AC) 40.43; 2 Ryan O’Reilly (Naas AC) 30.63; 3 Marty Davitt (DSD AC) 27.73. U18 (700g) : Eoin Cassidy (Naas AC) 32:88. U19 (800gm) - Karlo Stemec (Clongriffin AC) 28:90. Shot - U14 (2.75kg): Jack Barrett (Dunboyne AC) 9.55. Guest: Jack Moylan 11.56. U18 (5kg): 1 Harry Moylan (Crusaders AC) 10.40; 2 Daniel Aibuedefe (DSD AC) 9.00; 3 Robbie Tallon (DSD AC) 7.53. Girls - Javelin - U16 (500g): 1 Grace Garvey (Clane AC) 25.86; 2 Maeve Moore (Newbridge AC) 25.21; 3 Hannah McBride (Clane AC) 25:10. U18: 1 Isobel Kearns (Naas AC) 35.20; 2 Abby Lewis (Naas AC) 24.34; Laragh Hayes (Blackrock AC) 13.20. U19: 1 Enya Silkena (Ratoath AC) 39.24; 2 Ava Conroy (DSD AC) 33.27; 3 Olga Burkina (DSD AC) 23.05. Shot - U14 (2kg): Shile Croal (Bohermeen AC) 9.60 (9.49); 2 Neasa O’Keefe (DSD AC) 9.60 (9.35); 3 Aisling O’Brien (Metro St Brigid’s AC) )8.48 . U17 (3kg): 1 Adona Zewdie (DSD AC) 9.47; 2 Laragh Hayes (Blackrock AC) 6.28. Pictures from the DSD Meet are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/lindie/albums/72177720324581837/.

ROADS Clonliffe Harriers made it a double at the Tallaght 5km on St Patrick’s Day, with Ben Guiden the overall race winner and Helena Butterly first woman. On an entirely new course which took in two laps of the local college, Guiden led from early on and finished a clear winner in 15 min 9 secs. Eddie O’Connor of Bro. Pearse AC was second in 13:31 and previous winner Tomás Fitzpatrick of organising club Tallaght AC third and first M40 in 15.39. Butterly had an equally emphatic victory crossing the line with almost half a minute to spare in 16 mins 54 secs. Orla Walsh of Crusaders was second in 17:22 and Faye Dervan of Dublin City Harriers third in 17.27. Fourth and first W40 in 17.59 was Rachel Murphy of Plant-Based AC. Age group winners included Aidan Murphy (Dundrum South Dublin AC) M45, Lea Fulcher (Plant-Based AC) M50, Seamus Boylan (Brothers Pearse) M55, Tom Cuddy (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) M65, Janice Doyle (Brothers Pearse AC) W45, Catherine Brogan (Portmarnock AC) W50, Lucy Darcy (Sportsworld AC) W55, Fiona Byrne (Civil Service Harriers) W60, Liz Arkins (Lucan Harriers) W65 and Una Reilly (Liffey Valley AC) W70. In the team competition, it was again Clonliffe Harriers on the double. Tallaght AC and DSD AC were second and third of the men, while DCH and Liffey Valley were second and third of the women. Winners of the novice titles were Lee Duddy (Clonliffe Harriers), followed by Aidan Murphy (DSD AC) and Shane Heneghan (Dublin Front Runners) of the men and Orla Walshe (Crusaders AC), Rachel Murphy (Plant-Based AC) and Bonnie-may McFeat (DuCH ) of the women. Top three novice women’s teams were (provisionally) Liffey Valley, Sportsworld and Clonliffe Harriers. The top three men’s teams were Clonliffe Harriers, Dundrum South Dublin and Tallaght AC. The full results are on PopUPRaces at https://www.popupraces.ie/race/tallaght-ac-5k-2025/#1_C86632 The Dublin Novice results are at https://api.raceresult.com/331011/U0KS5YYLFVYUJDNHOZ6XXLU6NCTULL3Y and https://api.raceresult.com/331011/9UBMF2Q6YLHXDN0B74P0HDMEO1GMGWHV Pictures from the Tallaght 5k are on https://www.flickr.com/photos/lindie/albums/72177720324484653/ Meanwhile in Co Laois, Dundrum South Dublin made a winning start to their defence of the Peugeot Race Series title by finishing first team ahead of St Abban’s AC and Kilkenny City Harriers at the Streets of Portlaoise 5km. In a competitive race up front, Killian Mooney of DSD race, has just two seconds to spare when he finished in 14 mins 57 secs, with David Mansfield (Clonmel AC) second in 14:59. Even closer was the women’s race where Hannah Steeds (Leevale AC) sprinted clear of Eimear Maher (DSD AC), with the pair given times of 16:46 and 16:47. Sean Doran (Clonliffe Harriers) was the winner of the Skerries 10km on Sunday (March 16) with a time of 33 mins 13 secs. Second in 33:28 was Jamie Kavanagh Shiels. First woman with a time of 37:50 was Sarah-Grace Breen. In the age groups, Alan O’Dowd (Balbriggan and District AC) was first M50 in 39:09. Clonliffe was the winning men’s team with home team Skerries second and Lusk AC third. Best of the women’s teams was Portmarnock AC, led by Dee Magee in sixth place. Lusk AC was second and Raheny Shamrock third. FIELD EVENTS - INTERNATIONAL Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC) proved the star of the Irish team at the European Throwing Cup, held in Nicosia, Cyprus at the weekend when she won the women’s U23 hammer with a throw of 69.74 — not far off her best of 70.32m. Second with 69.06 was Thea Löfman of Sweden, who only had two valid throws. It was a first Irish title in this event first held 2001. Tuthill, who won her first Irish senior hammer title at the age of sixteen, had finished second in the last two editions of the competition. Last year, Tuthill who qualified for her first Olympics last year at the age of twenty, now has her sights set on qualification for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo later this summer. The A standard is 74m and the B standard 69.90m, which is a distance Tuthill has already achieved. A day earlier, 20-year-old Anna Gavigan (LSA AC) finished second in the women’s U23 discus with a massive personal best of 53.91—the first time she had thrown over 50 metres. Also on Sunday, Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock AC) who has a best of 20.93m, finished eighth in the men’s shot with a 19.10 effort Finishing fourth in the women’s B discus competition with a throw of 55.90m was Niamh Fogarty (Raheny Shamrock AC). Good luck to our European champion Sarah Healy (UCD AC) who races in the women’s 3000m final (there are no heats) at the World Indoors on Nanjing, China on Saturday next (March 22).The race starts at 11.15am Irish time. WOMEN’S MEET AND TRAIN WINTER LEAGUE 2024/5, OVERALL RESULTS Fun run and prize-giving Sunday April 6, Irishtown, 11am Individuals: 1 Lisa Gaughan (DSD); 2 Ruth Wilson (DSD); 3 Roisin McMahon (Sportsworld) Teams (49 entered) - Diamond:1 Sportsworld A; 2 DSD A; 3 Raheny Shamrock 1 Platinum: 1 Brothers Pearse B; 2 Esker 1; 3 Crusaders Red Gold:1 Brothers Pearse C; 2 Waterstown Warriors A; 3 Donore Dawdlers Silver: 1 DFR Ultra Violets; 2 Esker 3; 3 Tallaght 2 Bronze:1 Brothers Pearse D; 2 Esker 2; 3 Waterstown Warriors B

EUROPEAN INDOORS What a final day it was for Ireland at the European Indoors in Apeldoorn! Star of the show was Sarah Healy from Monkstown, who ran the perfect race for victory in the women’s 3000m. In a chaotic race with one faller, Healy was never far off the pace and sprinted past Britain’s Melissa CourtneyBryant — the pre-race favourite —with just two metres to spare. ‘I knew I had an opportunity today to win a medal, and to win gold, but I didn’t want to put too much expectation on it. I had to wait until the last 100m, but I’m so glad it worked out,’ she said afterwards. Healy, who won double gold in the 1500m and 300m at the European U18 Championships in 2018 while a member of Blackrock AC, struggled to make the transition to the senior ranks and in 2023, after finishing a law degree at UCD, made the tough decision to move to England. There she joined the M11 training group rbased in Wigan run by husband and wife team Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows. Other members of the group include Paris Olympics 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson and Georgia Bell, who took bronze in the 1500m, also at the Paris Olympics. After the race on Sunday, Meadows confirmed that Healy will be concentrating on the 1500m after this, although for the World Indoors, starting on March 21, she has qualifying times for both 1500m and 3000m. Taking double bronze in Apeldoorn were Mark English from Donegal in the 800m — his fourth bronze at European level — and multi-eventer Kate O’Connor from Co Louth in the pentathlon where her points total of 4781 broke her own national record. INDOORS - LOCAL Locally it was the final weekend of indoor competition with Athlone the venue for the National Junior and U23 Championships on Sunday and the National Masters a day earlier. In the U20 championship, Mathdenzel Mugri (Cabinteely AC) and Gloria Oigbochie (Tallaght AC) made it a Dublin double in the 60m sprint, with winning times of 7.08 secs and 7.80 secs respectively. There was a Dublin hat-trick in the men’s 200m, with Donal Martin (Blackrock AC) the winner in 21.67 followed by Luke Timlin (Crusaders AC) in 21.93 and Dubem Amah (Tallaght AC) in 22.19. Winning the 60m hurdles in a time of 8.05 secs was Sean Owens (Crusaders AC). Sean Cronin (Clonliffe Harriers) won the 1500m in 4:00.42, while his clubmate Emily Bolton, just a day after running in the All Ireland Schools Cross-Country in Galway, finished a close second in the women’s 1500m in 4:42.41. Other Dublin medal winners were Des O’Neill (Raheny Shamrock AC) a fighting second in the men’s 400m, Saoirse Fitzgerald (Lucan Harriers) third in the women’s 400m iand Lauren Healy second in the high jump. In the U23 Championships, Aisling Kelly (UCD AC) won the women’s 60m in 7.57, Kate O’Connell (Lucan Harriers) the 400m, and Renee Crotty (UCD AC) the women’s 800m. In the men’s 800m, Finn Woodger (Metro St Brigid’s AC) finished clear of of his clubmate Traian Rebegea, with the pair timed at 1:53.71 and 1:54.86. Another Woodger — Louie this time — finished second in the men’s 1500m in 3:56.70. In the field, Sam Vines (Cabinteely AC) finished second in the men’s shot, while Molly Mullally (DSD AC) was second in the triple jump and third in the long jump. At the All Ireland Masters, Snezana Bechtina (Clonliffe Harriers) was just one of many Dublin club winners, taking the women’s W40 sprint title. A close second was Sinead O’Connor (Metro St Brigid’s AC). Making it a double for Plant-Based AC were Rachel Murphy and Lea Fulcher in the W40 and M50 3000m races respectively. Alison Beck (Dundrum South Dublin AC) won both the W45 high jump and pole vault and was second in the triple jump. In the 60m, Dublin winners were Sarah Doyle (Tallaght) W35, Dara Carr (LSA AC) W55, Edel Maguire (Clonliffe Harriers) W65, Shane Sheridan (DSD AC) M65 and David Leech (Blackrock) M75 60m. Andrej Dmitrenko (Clonliffe Harriers) was first M55 and Kevin Byrne (DSD AC) second M50 in the 60m hurdles. Byrne was also second in the high jump. Richard Phelan (Donore Harriers) won the M60 long jump. In the men’s 3000m, Tom Cuddy (Rathfarnham WSAF) was first M65 and Mick Traynor (Raheny Shamrock) second M60. Niall Allen (Clonliffe Harriers) won both the M50 shot and weight for distance., with his clubmate Vivian Okafor second W40 in the shot. Finally in the 4x200 relays, winning teams from Dublin were LSA W40, Lucan Harriers W60 and DSD mixed. ALL IRELAND SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY At the All Ireland Schools Cross-Country Championships held at Ballybrit Racecourse, Galway on Saturday (March 8), Cillian Gleeson (Colaiste Chiarain) finished second behind Noah Harris (ETSS Wicklow) — just as he had done at the Leinster Championships. In a Leinster clean sweep, Ryan O’Neill (Terenure College) finished third. Emily Bolton won the girls’ senior race comfortably and with Lorraine O’Connors fifth and Laura Nunan 34th, also took team gold with the Institute of Education. At inter level, Megan Brunt (Loreto Dalkey) was fifth and Tara Rose Smith (Sutton Park) sixth. Leinster champion Charlie O’Neill (Belvedere) finished sixth in the boys’ inter race, helping Belvedere to third place in the team competition, with St Paul’s Raheny, led by Conrad Latham in 13th place, fourth. Santa Sabina, led by Beth Reamsbottom in fourth place, was the winning team in the girls’ junior race, where Ruby Farrelly (Our Lady’s Templeogue) was third. LAST BHAA CROSS-COUNTRY OF THE SEASON! Laura McDonnell was the runaway winner of the women’s two mile race at the ALSAA BHAA cross-country held at Dublin Airport on Saturday (March 8). Second was Clodagh Dunphy, while third was Sinead Tighe in 12.24. First team was Legal A. In the men’s four mile race, Sean Doran was an equally clear winner ahead of Robert Frewen and Paul Fleming. ESB were the team winners followed by Revenue and Eir. And so we say farewell to the cross-country season - until next autumn! ROADS A large number of Dublin club athletes headed to Co Meath for the Bohermeen Half Marathon on Sunday (March 9) where Kate Purcell (Raheny Shamrock, W40) finished third woman in 76:50. In Dublin city, also on Sunday, James Kelly was the winner of The Liberties RC 5km, held in the Coombe, with Giovanni Salvatore (Raheny Shamrock) second. First woman was Alison Shorten (Cherry Orchard RC). Shauna O’Callaghan (Sportsworld) finished third. First for the local Liberties Running club were Paul McGrath and Leanne Kelly who came in together. At the Great Gorey 10-Mile in Co Wexford Barry Whelan (Portmarnock AC) finished second, while at the Midleton 10-Mile in Co Cork, Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers) finsihed third overall and first M40.

ROADS John Travers (Donore Harriers) and Ann-Marie McGlynn (Letterkenny AC) were the winners at the Lusk 4-Mile road races held on Sunday (March 2) and attacted an antry of close to a thousand with 869 finishers. Travers’ time of 18 mins 43 sec saw him finish comfortably clear of Sean Cronin (Clonliffe Harriers) second in 19:05 and Conor Duffy (Glaslough Harriers) third in 19:28. McGlynn finished in 20:30 with Dublin-based Íde Nic Dhomhnaill (West Limerick AC) second in 20:43. Helena Butterly (Clonliffe Harriers) was fourth in 21:59. Sixth and first W40 was Rachel Murphy (Plant-Based AC) in 23:18, with Sorcha Loughnane (Donore Harriers) seventh and second W40 24.12. First W50 was Catherine Brogan (Portmarnock AC) in 25:33 while first W70 was Mary Lynch (Raheny Shamrock AC) in 30:24. Of the men, Lea Fulcher (Pant-Based AC) was first M50 in 20:54, and Ken Doyle (Raheny Shamrock AC) first M60 in 27:30. At the Naas 10-Mile, also on Sunday, Karl Nolan (Clonliffe Harriers) and Sonya McConnon (DSD) made it a Dublin double victory by winning the over 40 men and women’s races. Declan Power (Clonliffe Harriers) was first M50. A day earlier, Eddie O’Connor (Brothers Pearse AC) was the winner of the Moneystown 4-Mile Garden Run in Ballinacoola, Co Wicklow, with a time of 20 mins 31 secs. Racing machine Sean Doran (Clonliffe Harriers) was second in 20:39. Fourth and first M40 was Aidan Murphy (Dundrum South Dublin AC) in 21:34. In Co Donegal at the Bundoran 10-Mile in Co Donegal also on Saturday (March 1), Fiona Stack (Raheny Shamrock AC) finished second overall and first W40 at the Bundoran 10-Mile with a time of 61:29. CROSS-COUNTRY - BHAA AND WOMEN’S MEET AND TRAIN TEAM UP! Paul Fleming (Ornua/RathfarnhamWSAF AC) ran a typically canny race to win the Business Houses Athletic Association AIB men’s 4-mile race held at the National Cross-County Course, Abbotstown, on Sunday (March 2). In the women’s 2-mile race, run in conjunction with Women’s Meet and Train for the first time ever, Lisa Gaughan (DSD AC) was not only first overall but won her third race from four outings in the Meet and Train Winter League. Second was her club mate Ruth Wilson, while third was Rachel Calvey (Sportsworld AC). As they had done in previous races, Jane Leonard (DSD) and Dee Lyons (Dublin Front Runners) battled it out all the way to the line for fourth place with Leonard the winner. The Meet and Train league will end with a fun run and prize-giving hosted by Crusaders AC at Irishtown on Sunday April 6 (11am). Next for BHAA runners is the final cross-country of the season hosted by the ALSAA at its Dublin Airport grounds on Saturday next March 8 (11am). Details www.bhaa.ie INDOORS Cathal Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers) finished fifth in the men’s 1500m in a time of 3:39.62 at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold final round in Madrid Spain on Friday, (February 28). His season’s best indoors time was 3:37.39 run in Liévin, France, on February 13. His outdoor best for 1500m is 3:33.15. Doyle now heads for Apeldoorn in the Netherlands where he will compete in the European Indoor Championships for the first time. At the Leinster Indoor Championships held at the NIA, Abbotstown on Saturday (March 1), Dundrum South Dublin made it a double in the 800m, with Charlotte Burke winning the women’s race in 2 mins 15.15 secs and Joe Hastings first home in the men’s race in 1:54.85. Dublin athletes took the top six places in the men’s race, with Hastings followed by George Warrne, Oren Kenny, and Fintan Kerins, all Clonliffe Harriers, Jared Murray of Rathfarnham WSAF and Cormac Whelan of Donore Harriers. Winning the U20 women’s race in 2:17.94 was Robyn Carey (Lusk AC) with Rachel Jez (Lucan Harriers) third in 2:21.34. In the masters categories, Breda Smyth (Lucan Harriers) was first W50. Dublin winners in the men’s master categories, were Stephen Brett (Metro St Brigid’s C) M45 and David Dunwoody (Clonliffe Harriers) M55. A solid winner of the senior men’s 1500m title was Juan Ignacio Peña (Raheny Shamrock) in 3:49.32. His clubmate Brian Sexton was first M35 in 4:25.28, while in the M40 class, Niall Sherlock (Clonliffe Harriers) won the 1500m and was also second in the 800m. Winning the U20 1500m was Aisling Fitzpatrick (Lucan Harriers) with her clubmate Ana Jones third. Winning the W35 title was Brigid Long (Liffey Valley). Over 3000m, Rachel Murphy (Plant Based AC) won the W35 title in 10:07.53. Her clubmate Lea Fulcher won the M50 title with Arnaud Benjacar (Liffey Valley) second. Mark Ryan (Rathfarnham WSAF) was a clear overall winner of the masters’ race and also first M45 in 9:09.57. In the sprints, Sinead O’Connor (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) won the W40 60m with Snezana Bechtina (Clonliffe Harriers) second. Bechtina also won her specialist 400m in 60.59. Closest race of the day was the senior men’s 60m which went to a photo-finish when Sean Aigboboh (Tallaght AC) and Lorcan Murphy (DSD AC) were both given a time of 6.87 secs. Aigboboh just scraped it. Third was Leo Morgan (Clonliffe Harriers) timed at 6.88. Cillian Doherty (Crusaders) set a championships record when winning the U20 60m in 6.96 secs. His clubmate Luke Timlin was second in 7.00. Ballymun AC took a first ever medal at this level when Colm Keogh won the M50 60m in 8.14 secs, beating Kevin Leahy (DSD AC) on 8.19. In the 200m, whose placings were reversed with Leahy getting the better of Keogh. At the sixth and final Track and Field Live meet of the season held at the NIA Abbotstown on Wednesday (February 26), Juan Ignacio Peña (Raheny Shamrock) finished third in the men’s mile with a time of 4:04.09.

Shirley Murray, Tallaght Athletic Club coach, Dublin and National official was presented with an outstanding service award by Leinster Athletics officials Majella McGrath and Andrew Lynham in the National Indoors Athletic Arena, Abbotstown on Sunday 23rd February 2025. Shirley is ever present at all Dublin Juvenile athletic events and has been so for over 20 years. Well done Shirley.

HEALY AND DOYLE MAKE IT A DUBLIN DOUBLE AT NATIONAL INDOORS Runaway wins for Dublin athletes Sarah Healy and Cathal Doyle in the 1500m races were among the highlights of the All Ireland Indoor Championships held at Abbotstown, Dublin, over the weekend. In the women’s race, Healy was out on her own from the start, winning comfortably in 4:08.74. It was her first national indoors title over the 1500m distance. Doyle, the defending champion, got himself out of trouble about mid-way through the men’s race before storming home on the final lap to finish in 3:58.10. ‘I think I’m getting the hang of indoor racing,’ he said afterwards. Finishing second was Lughaidh Mallon (UCD AC) in 4:00.61. A keenly awaited race was the men’s 60m final which would feature a show-down between UCD’s Bori Akinola and Irish record holder and three times champion Israel Olatunde of Tallaght AC. Akinola has been the form man indoors this winter and he duly won the race and his first national title in 6.61 secs — a season’s best. Olatunde finished third in 6.72. Almost sixty athletes had entered the men’s 60m. A day earlier, Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers AC) was a clear winner of the men’s 200m in 20.74, while in the women’s 200m, Kate O’Connell (Lucan Harriers) finished second, with Molly Hourihan (UCD AC) third. Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock) proved the class of the field in the men’s shot, winning his third indoor title with his opening heave of 19.450m. Favors’ Raheny clubmate Colm Bourke won the long jump with a 7.15 leap and was also second in the triple jump. On a good day in the field for Raheny, Daphni Doulaptsi Teeuwen finished second inn the women’s triple jump. Other Dublin club athletes to win medals over the weekend included Amy O’Donoghue (Dundrum South Dublin AC) third in the women’s 1500m, Finn Woodger (Metro St Brigid’s ) second in the men’s 800m, Niamh Kearney (Raheny Shamrock AC) third women’s 3000m, David Bosch (UCD AC) second behind the phenomenal Conor Kelly in the men’s 400m, Ciara Wilson Bowen (DSD AC) third in the women’s 3000m walk and Lorcan Murphy (DSD AC) second in the men’s high jump. In a thrilling women’s 4 x 200m relay on Saturday, Dundrum South Dublin held off Leevale AC to win in 1:40.96, with Metro St Brigid’s third in 1:42.25. The DSD quartet finished third in the men’s 4 x200m. A day later, UCD won the women’s 4 x 400m, with DSD third. In the men’s 4 x 400m, which concluded a memorable championships, DSD finished second behind Ratoath AC. ROADS At the Seville Marathon on Sunday (February 23), ultra specialist Sorcha Loughnane (Donore Harriers) finished 27th woman in 2:44.36. Also on Sunday, Sean Doran (Clonliffe Harriers) made it two wins in two days when winning the Duleek 5km in Co Meath in 15 mins 35 secs. Eric Keogh (Donore Harriers) was second in 15:44. In a Dublin double, Orla Walsh (Crusaders AC) was first woman in 18:23. At the Wicklow Hospice Half Marathon over a tough off-road course in Avondale Forest Park, Rathdrum on Saturday, Jason Reilly (Civil Service Harriers, M40) was the winner in 77 mins 8 secs with Julie McGrath (Crusaders AC) first woman in 86:50. BHHA CROSS COUNTRY As they had done at the Teachers Cross-Country the previous weekend, Sean Doran and Clare Sullivan were the winners at the Central Bank BHAA 6km Cross-Country held at Jobstown Park, Tallaght on Saturday (February 22). Doran had a comfortable overall win in 21 mins 29 secs, with Edward O’Connor second in 21:50 and Paul Fleming third in 22.36. Sullivan finished in 25:41, with Clodagh Dunphy second in 27:02 and Malika Hammani third in 27:31. ESB were first of the grade 1 teams ahead of Accountants and Gardai, with Teachers winning Grade 2. Stronger with Esther proved best of the women’s teams. * The National Cross-Country course at Abbotstown gets a rare outing next Sunday (11am) when the BHAA and Women’s Meet and Train combine to put on a women’s 2-mile as well as a men’s 4-mile race. Register at www.bhaa.ie