Lynne Hennessy and James Hamilton ran the fastest parkrun times in Ireland this weekend (August 31st).

Lynne Hennessy of Rathfarnham WSAF dipped under 19 minutes at Marlay parkrun to finish as this week’s fastest female parkrunner in Ireland. Hennessy has a parkrun PB of 18:39 and is in good form after a strong showing at the recent Dublin Athletics Graded T&F meet at Tallaght AC over the mile.

The familiar name of Kirsti Foster was second on the list this week with a time of 19:00 at Belfast Victoria. The flying under 15 from East Down AC appears in the top 10 almost every week in and around fine performances on the track over 800m-3000m.

Robyn McKee ran a new parkrun PB of 19:01 at City Park to finish 3rd on the list. After many fine performances as a junior athlete McKee appears to have had an break of eight years and is now back running at a good level including a 2nd place finish at the Northern Ireland & Ulster 800m Championships in June.

James Hamilton has competed at the very highest level having finished 6th in the 1500m at the World Para Athletics Championships in London and 5th at the IPC European Champs in Italy in 2015. His time of 16:16 at Sixmilewater was quick enough to see him head the parkrun top 10 this week. Hamilton has been in excellent form this year with PBs at 5km (15:14) and 5000m (15:29) to his name.

**update** Finley Daly was second fastest this week after results were submitted for Lough Key parkrun. The Sligo AC man took eight seconds off his own course record to clock 16:17. The talented athlete who also runs for National University of Ireland Galway has seen impressive middle distance and XC results over the last couple of years including becoming junior All Ireland Steeplechase Champion in 2018.

Another man with major championship experience is Adam Kirk-Smith who was third fastest this week with 16:20 at Wallace. Kirk-Smith was 8th in the steeplechase at last year’s Commonwealth Games and picked up a bronze medal in the 5,000m at this year’s Northern Ireland & Ulster Championships.

Men’s top 10

1) parkrun: Sixmilewater
James Hamilton, 16:16, Ballymena Runners AC
2) parkrun: Lough Key
Finley Daly, 16:17, Sligo AC
3) parkrun: Wallace
Adam Kirk-Smith, 16:20, Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies
4) parkrun: Lees Road
Jamie Kelly, 16:22, Ennis Track A.C.
5) parkrun: St Anne’s
Robert Frewen, 16:42, Raheny Shamrock AC
6) parkrun: St Anne’s
Graham O’Dwyer, 16:44, Raheny Shamrock AC
=7) parkrun: Marlay
Luke McMullan, 16:50, Rathfarnham WSAF
=7) parkrun: Poolbeg
John Higgins, 16:50, Mayo AC
=7) parkrun: New Ross
Aedan Rogers, 16:50, United Striders AC
10) parkrun: Poolbeg
Stephen Hurley, 16:53, Crusaders A C Dublin

Women’s top 10

1) parkrun: Marlay
Lynne Hennessy, 18:59, Rathfarnham WSAF
2) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Kirsti Foster, 19:00, East Down AC
3) parkrun: City Park
Robyn McKee, 19:01
4) parkrun: Marlay
Harriette Ann-Marie Robinson, 19:08, Dundrum South Dublin Athletic Club
5) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Lucy Foster, 19:33, East Down AC
6) parkrun: Omagh
Lauren Molloy, 19:35
7) parkrun: Marlay
Amy Moran, 19:40, Dundrum South Dublin Athletic Club
8) parkrun: Limerick
Shona Ni Fhloinn, 19:41, Dooneen AC
9) parkrun: Naas
Kana Akimoto, 19:42
10) parkrun: Gorey
Clodagh Kelly, 19:55, Croghan AC

If you would like to run faster at parkrun, top tips to help runners of all abilities can be found here.

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