ROADS
Stephen Scullion (Clonliffe Harriers) proved best of the Irish in the elite race at the London Marathon on Sunday (April 21), finishing 13th in 2:16.0. Scullion had hoped to make the Olympic marathon qualifying mark of 2:08.10. Hiko Tonosa Haso (Dundrum South Dublin AC), who was making his marathon debut, was looking strong when he went through halfway in 63:39 but dropped out around the 35km mark, Best of the Irish women was Fiona Stack (Raheny Shamrock AC) who finished 11th W40 in 2:46.54. Also in London Karl Nolan ran an excellent PB of 2:28.11.
At the Wexford half marathon, three memebrs of Clonliffe Harriers were in action. Ger Clerkin finished third overall in a time of 76.35 for the hilly course, while Meghan O’Keeffe was second woman in a personal best 90.14 andHarry Lynam ran a time of 95.50.
Winners of the Maynooth 5km on Sunday (April 21) were Adam Foy (Donore Harriers) in 16:02 and Lisa Madden (Sportsworld AC) in 16:52. Second overall in 16:07 was Alex Ainsworth (Crusaders AC). Second woman in 17:51 was Sarah Mulligan (DSD AC).
At the St Andrew’s AC 5km/10km in Ashbourne Co Meath, Mark O’Connor was the winner of the 10km in 36 mins 40 secs, with Raheny veteran Vinnie Mulvey second in 36:54. The race attarcted a large number of Dublin club runners and winner of the 5km was Daragh Keegan (Donore Harriers) in 16:51. Clonliffe’s master women were out in force with six finishers in the top eleven, led by Ciara Peelo who finished third in 20:08.
At the Great Railway Run 25km, in Carrigaline, Co Cork, Cillian O’Leary (Raheny Shamrock AC) finish fifth and first M40 in 87:53, while in County Galway, Marc Augustin (Le Cheile AC, M40) not only led home 1,135 finishers at the Connemarathon Half Marathon in a time of 74 mins 58 secs, but finished over twelve minutes clear of the chasers. Mark Bennett was second in 87:32 and Aaron Farrell (Crusaders AC, M40) third in 89:00. Finishing thrid in the 39.3 mile ultra with a time of 4:25.16 was Ciaran Doherty (Clonliffe Harriers).
TRACK AND FIELD
Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock AC) opened his track season at the Diamond League meet in Xiamen, China on Saturday (April 20) when finished 12th in the 5000m in 13:14.97. Fay, aged twenty-five, is the current Irish record holder for the distance having run a time of 13:01.40 in July last year. He’ s also the current Irish champion over the distance and a month ago, ran a personal best 27:43.45 for 10,000m in California. Fay will compete in the Shanghai/Suzhou Diamond League on Saturday April 27. Adeleke was also part of a race winning 4 x 100m quatete that finishing in
At the Mount Sac Relays in California on Saturday, Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC) finished a close second in the 200m with a time of 22.61 secs; her Irish record, set a year ago, stands at 22.34 secs. Earlier, Rhasidat had helped a 4 x 100m quartet to victory in 42.03.
In the men’s 10,000m held on Thursday (April 18), Sean Kay (Clonliffe Harriers) finished eighth in 30:08.01.
At the North Belfast Harriers Afternoon of 5000m Races at the Mary Peters Track on Saturday, junior athlete Cormac Dixon (Tallaght AC) was secondd fastest in the elite race with a time of 14:04.8. In the women’s elite race, Emma McEvoy(DSD AVC) also a junior, was second fastest in 16:33.60. Other good times were record by Rahney Shamrock pair Shane Spring 14:21.3 and Robert Frewen 15:59.16, by Orla Duffy (DCH) 17:10.62 and by Clonliffe pair Emma Mitchell 17:16.39 and Richie Owens 15.43.60, both of them returning to racing after long injury breaks. Also for Clonliffe, Cian Murray ran 16.36.43, Jack Woods 17.10.58 and Andrew Gaffney 17.06.37.
Roll on the opening Graded Meet of the season at UCD on Sunday May 5, where the programme includes 3000m races and a 2000m steeplechase as well as the 100m, 800m, high jump, long jump, hammer and shot!
At the Gibson Invitation at Indiana State University, Gavin Cougle (Clonliffe Harriers) won his 200m heat in a time of 22.02. and also ran on the fourth-placed Butler 4 x 100 team that finished in 41.25 secs.
* Here are the provisonal dates for the 2024/5 Meet & Train League Winter following a meeting in Irishtown. Thank you Crusaders AC for hosting.
Sept - 40th anniversary track meet (date venue tbc); Sun Nov10, Rd 1, Tymon Park; Sun Jan 12, Rd 2, DSD; Sun Feb 9, Rd 3, Marino (DFR; tbc); Sun Mar 2, Rd 4 (final rd), Abbotstown; Sun Apr 6 , prize giving and fun run, venue tbc. Teams of six (three to count; best three results from four races) four grades. Entry fee €20 for series or €7 per race. New clubs — and ideas for venues — alway welcome! Further info fionashine@gmail
All pics from MyRunResults, Clonliffe Harriers websites. The Wexford Half Marathon start and others from the Ashbourne 5km/10km
