Lindie Naughton brings us the weekend’s endurance action for Irish athletes and races. 

Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock AC showed that he’s returning to full fitness after a period of injury when he held off the challenge of Jamie Fallon of Craughwell AC to win the National 10km title at the Great Ireland Run in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Saturday (April 9).

Clohisey finished in 30 mins 39 secs with Fallon just eight seconds adrift in 30:57. Finishing third in 31:25 was Rory O’Connor of North Cork AC.

Good packing gave Crusaders AC the team title, with Kieran Little in eleventh place leading them home. Clonliffe Harriers finished second and Donore Harriers third.

Taking the women’s title in 34 mins 20 secs was Sinead O’Connor of Leevale AC. Ciara Wilson of DMP AC was second in 34:43 and Laura McDonnell of Rathfarnham WSAF AC third in 35:29.

In fourth place Elizabeth Carr was leading Mullingar Harriers to senior team victory, although Raheny Shamrock, led by W50 winnerAnnette Kealy, were the best team overall. Making up the Raheny team were senior athlete Aislin g Ahern and Zoe Quinn W45.

Of the strictly senior teams, Sli Cualann AC and Rathfarnham WSAF AC finished second and third.

In the men’s master’s categories, Inishowen AC from Donegal, led by M55 champion, Pauric McKinney, won the M35 title, while Liffey Valley AC was first of the M50 teams.

Credit: Dublin Marathon

The wrong shoes at Rotterdam

Stephen Scullion of Clonliffe Harriers finished 13th in 2:14.31 at the Rotterdam Marathon. Scullion was forced to borrow a pair of runners when his own shoes were not approved. Scullion, who had Paul Pollock for company in the first half (who DNF’d after 30km), tweeted that his feet went numb around 38km, but showed some grit and still got himself to that finish line.

Next fastest of a strong Irish club contingent was Martin Hoare of Celbridge AC who finished 26th with a time of 2:20.31. Other Irish finishers were Conal McCambridge 2:26.17, Brian Conroy of Clane AC 2:27.40 and Brian’s brother Stephen of Celbridge AC 2:28.16.

On a good day for Kildare-based runners, Peter Donohoe from Celbridge AC finished second M60 in 2:56.06. For Meath, Sean Murphy of Trim AC was third M50 in 2:40.37.

Best of the Irish women running, was Isabel Oakes who finished third W35 in 2:50.51.

Fast 5ks at home

Winners of the Karen Fenton Memorial 5km in Co Cork on Sunday (April 10), were Darragh Murray in 16:38 and Martina Kiely in 18:07. Both are members of St Finbarr’s AC.

Nicholas Griggs of Mid-Ulster AC set a new course record of 14 mins 12 secs on his way to victory at the Queen’s 5km around the Ormeau Embankment in Belfast last Wednesday (April 6).

Griggs knocked eight seconds off Paul Pollock’s time of 14:20 set in 2014. The 17-year-old, who set a European U20 record for the Indoor mile last month, is targeting the World U20 Championships this summer. He will open his track season at the Belfast Irish Milers Meet on 14 May.

Finishing second behind Griggs was Ian Guiden of Clonliffe Harriers, who was also inside the old record with a time of 14:14. Ben Branagh, who finished third in 14:24, was leading St Malachy’s AC to team victory over Annadale Striders and North Belfast Harriers.

First woman in a time of 16:09 was Emma Mitchell of Clonliffe Harriers. Letterkenny’s Nikita Burke was second in 16:41 and Robyn McKee third in17:03. Annadale Striders proved best of the women’s teams ahead of Clonliffe Harriers and North Down AC.

In the opening round of the Roscommon Harriers 5km Series on Friday evening (April 8), Kate Kelly of Athlone IT AC joined the select group of women to have won a race outright.

Kelly was completely untroubled with her time of 17 mins 38 secs putting her 43 seconds clear of second placed John Fitzmaurice from host club Roscommon Harriers, who finished in 18:21 and was first M50.

Third and second woman in 18:39 was Fiona Gettings of Longford AC. Next round (of four) is on Friday, April 15.

Track time

Thomas Devaney of University of Limerick won the men’s 10,000m at the Irish Universities Track and Field Championships in Carlow on Friday and Saturday (April 8 and 9).

Devaney’s time of 3:36.62 saw him beating the DCU pair of Sean O’Leary and Daniel Stone, who finished in times of 30:41.66 and 30:47.77 respectively.

Longest distance for the women was the 5000m won by intervarsity cross-country champion Aoife O Cuill in 17:32.79. Winning the 3000m in10:01.33 was Niamh O’Mahoney of UCC in 10:01.33.

Over 1500m, Aaron Brennan of NUI Galway won the men’s title with a time of 3:57.84 while Lucy Holmes of MTU Cork was the women’s winner with a time of 4:42.31.

Winning the men’s steeplechase in. 9:16.71 was UL’s Oisin Spillane.

UL finished best of the men’s colleges with 102 points. DCU was second with 91 points and UCD third with 53points. DCU were clear winners of the women’s title with 128 points, well clear of UL on 62 points and UCD with 46 points. Overall, DCU, which has recently taken over the lease of the Morton Stadium in Santry from Fingal County Council, were clear winners.

The championships were originally planned for UCD’s new track at Belfield, which was supposed to open in time for the college club’s centenary in 2021 until lockdowns and wet weather intervened. It is hoped that the new track will be functioning by the end of the year.

Stateside action

Laura Mooney of Tullamore Harriers won the women’s 5000m in 16 mins 9 secs at the Friar Invitational meet, hosted by her US college, Providence, in Rhode Island, on Friday (April 8).

Mooney’s Providence teammate Orla O’Connor of Waterford AC was third in 16:45.

In the men’s 5000m, David McGlynn, also Waterford AC, finished third in 13:59.63. Behind him in fourth place was recently crowned Irish junior 10,000m record holder, Abdel Laadjel of Donore Harriers in 14:02.94. Shane Coffey of Naas AC was 14th in 14:35.33.

Finlay Wild, in his usual position of first, at a different event. Photo: Pete Bland Sports (who have a cracking website if you need any fell/trail running gear)

Hill running in the Mournes

Finlay Wild of Lochaber AC was the winner of the Mournes Seven Sevens on Saturday (April 9), which was a British Championships round.

Wild led from Slieve Donard, the first peak of the seven, and finished in 3 hrs 28 mins 17 secs.

Best of the local runners was Adam Cunningham of Mourne Runners in 3:46.52. Steven Shields of NIMRA was eleventh in 4:02.28 and Jonny Steede of Glens Runners 14th and second M40 in 4:09.39.

First woman was Victoria Thompson of Helm Hill Runners in 4:50.12. First local finisher was Kerri Munn-Bookless of NIMRA in 5:35.14. Not too far behind was Elizabeth Wheeler of Glens Runners in 5:41.48. Kelly-Anne Speight finished in 5:59.05.

Ultra-running

On Sunday (April 10), Caitriona Jennings of Letterkenny AC, finished second woman with a time of 7 hrs 37 mins 59 secs  in the stamina sapping Lake Sonoma 50 Mile in California. Winner was Brittany Charbineau,  who finished ten minutes ahead of Jennings.