It’s Armagh International race week, but that wasn’t the only place we saw some fast running, with Barcelona, Spain providing some highlights too. 

Fionnuala McCormack of Kilcoole AC produced the Irish performance of the day at the Barcelona Half Marathon on Sunday (February 16) when finishing 11th woman in 71 mins 41 secs.

Ann-Marie McGlynn of Letterkenny AC was not too far behind in 72:13, followed by Fionnuala Ross of Armagh AC in 74:58 and Barbara Sanchez of Clonliffe Harriers in 76:31. First woman was Ashete Bekere of Ethiopia in 66:37.

In the men’s race John Travers of Donore Harriers clocked 64:43, Eoghan Totten of Newcastle AC 65:00, Eric Keogh of Donore Harriers 65:19, Conor Bradley of City of Derry Spartans 65:36, and Thomas Hayes of Kilkenny City Harriers 66:03. Victor Chumo of Kenya was the race winner in 59:58.

More ten mile fast times

At the Glenmore 10-mil in Ballybofey, Co Donegal, also on Sunday, Eoghan McGinley of Letterkenny AC overcame Storm Dennis and over 500 other competitors to win in 55 mins 8 secs – an exceptional time in Sunday’s adverse conditions. 

First woman and fourth overall in 56:40 was Teresa Doherty of Finn Valley in 56:40; she even beat husband Ciaran who was seventh and second M40 in 57.25!

Armagh International

Best of the Irish in the men’s 5km at the Armagh International road races on Thursday (February 13) was Matt Bergin of Dundrum South Dublin AC who finished sixth in 13 mins 47 secs.

Kevin Dooney of Raheny Shamrock Ac clocked 13:55 for 14th place, Ryan Forsyth of Newcastle AC was 16th in 13:57, Cathal Doyle of Clonliffe Harriers 20th in 13:59, and Michael Power of West Waterford AC 21st also in 13:59.

In the women’s 3km, Nakita Burke of Letterkenny was 14th in 9 mins 28 secs, Cheryl Nolan of St Abban’s AC 28th in 9:42, Ciara Wilson of DMP AC 29th in 9:43, Fiona Clinton of DSD AC 30th in 9:44 and Sarah Lavery of Beechmount Harriers 34th in 9:35. Beechmount Harriers finished fifth team in a race dominated by visiting British clubs runners.

Indoors – O’Donovan goes sub-4 for the mile

Charlie O’Donovan of Leevale AC and Villanova went under four minutes for the first time at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston on Saturday (February 15). O’Donovan finished fourth in the race with a personal best time of 3 mins 58.95 secs.

In the 3000m, Jack O’Leary of Mullingar Harriers and Iona College ran a personal best of 7:53.47. O’Leary finished 19th in a race won by Luis Grijalva in 7:43.73.

At the Athlone International Grand Prix on Wednesday (February 12), Ciara Mageean of City of Lisburn AC improved her personal best to 8 mins 48.28 secs when winning the 3000m in front of a packed crowd. The time puts Mageean at No 3 on the Irish all-time indoors list behind Mary Cullen and Sonia O’Sullivan.

In his first race of the year, 400m hurdler Thomas Barr of Ferrybank AC ran a PB of 46.44 secs for third in the 400m behind Tony van Diepen of the Netherlands and three times indoor world champion Pavel Maslak of Poland, the three time world Indoor Champion.

Winning the mile was Ethiopia’s Samuel Tefera 3:55.9. For second place, Raheny Shamrock’s Brian Fay was agonisingly close to the four minute barrier with a time of 4:00.77.

A day earlier, at the NIA Live meet at Abbotstown, Anne Gilshinin of Slaney Olympic AC set a W55 world record time of 5:13.90 for the Mile. Gilshinin was recently named world middle distance master athlete of the year.

At the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix on Saturday (February 15), Nadia Power of Dublin City Harriers AC, finished seventh in the 1000m with a time of 3 mins 41.99 secs. Scotland’s Laura Muir was the race winner in 2:33.47.

On the cross country

Bronagh Kearns of AXA XL was a clear winner of the women’s 2-mile ALSAA BHAA Cross-Country held in stormy conditions at the ALSAA grounds, Dublin Airport, on Saturday (February 15).

Kearns finished in 13 mins 8 secs. Niamh Corby of Revenue was second in 14:32 and Grainne Butler of Health A third in 14:38.

Winning the men’s 5-Mile was Sean Doran of Harrier Products in 31 mins 17 secs. Ciaran McCarthy was second in 32:50 and Stephen Kelly of Express Side Gates third in 33.18. Next BHAA races is the inaugural Central Bank cross-country at Wesley College, Dundrum on Saturday next February 22 (11am).

Photo: Lindie Naughton

Top three at the final Meet and Train Winter League race held on a chilly and breezy morning at the national cross-country course at Abbotstown on Sunday (February 16) were Eimear English (Dunboyne AC), Sinead Tighe (Bros Pearse), and Elaine McLoughlin (Clonliffe Harriers).

In all, four Meet and Train races, all over two miles, took place this winter, with teams divided into four grades. A fun run and prize-giving hosted by Sportsworld is scheduled for Sunday March 8 (11am).

Are you a fan of Fast Running? Then please support us and become a patron. For as little as the price of a monthly magazine you can support Fast Running – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.