Marathon
Congratulations to all from our club who
took part in Monday’s Cork City
Marathon. Well done to one and all and a special word to those who recorded new
p.b’s.
Both the Half Marathon and the Relay also had a strong Midleton A.C
contingent taking part, with many of our athletes producing outstanding
performances.
When he has recovered from his latest very successful
26.2 mile trip, my colleague Peter Gunning will pen his own reflections on
another memorable day.
In the meantime our own blog and the running in Cork blog
has plenty of pictorial coverage.
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Cork City
Marathon
Athletics – John Cashman
( Irish Examiner June 5th)
Freddy Kearon denied Sergui Ciobanu a notable three in a
row triumph when the Kenyan broke the course record to win yesterday’s sixth edition of the Cork
City Marathon since it was revived in 2007.
The race winner made the decisive break mid way through
and went on to cross the line in 2:22:11, which meant he smashed the record set
by Ciobanu last year by over three minutes. On a day when bright blue skies and
warm temperatures greeted the athletes from early morning Clonmel’s Angela
McCann retained her ladies title in style, clocking 2:53:02, 29 seconds faster
than she posted 12 months ago.
Clouds had gathered and a south easterly breeze had begun
to strengthen by the time the leaders made their way to the picturesque water
front area near Mahon. Here Freddy Kearon took a decisive hold on the race just
after half way, quickly opening up a gap of over 20 seconds on Ciobanu who had
kept him company since the starter’s gun. Had Ciobanu kicked on that stage, the
outcome may have been different
but the defending champion gave himself too much to do late on to influence the
overall outcome. Huw Lobb, from Serpentine who had kept the leaders company over
the opening 5 miles, was also by now running solo in third
position.
Meantime up front Kearon maintained a steady pace,
dropping just under a minute on the return journey having posted 1:10:37 at the
half way point, In contrast Ciobanu despite chopping 2 minutes 29 seconds off
his 2011 winning time , lost 1 minute 42 seconds on his homeward journey, after
being shoulder to shoulder with Kearon at the half marathon
marker.
Lobb who lost ground over the closing miles held on to
take the bronze medal. Behind was Cork’s first finisher Cillian O’Leary who runs
with the Raheny Shamrocks club in Dublin. In his first marathon the 32 year old
former winner of the National Half Marathon in Waterford had reason to be
pleased with his finishing time of 2:29:52. His club mate Brian Leahy completed
the top five.
Ladies winner Angela McCann had also established a
winning lead by the business end of the race as the 41 year old mother of three
powered on to make it two wins in four Cork Marathon starts. In what was her
eight marathon overall, the Clonmel runner was exactly one minute clear of
runner up Ann Curley (Donore Harriers) at half way.
Again she showed her strength extending her lead to 1
minute 33 seconds by the time she crossed the line in 2:53:02. German based Cork
native Mary O’Leary, second in 2007 had reason to be very pleased with her sub 3
hour third placed finish as she significantly shaved over 8 minutes off her time
of five summers ago. Another consistent Cork marathoner Anne Marie Holland of
Eagle AC finished just behind whilst Helen Leonard of Rathfarnham, now based on
Leeside was an impressive fifth.
Less
than 24 hours after finishing the Newry Marathon, wheelchair competitor Jerry
Forde was back on the road to complete his 211th marathon. The
powerful West Waterford AC team anchored by Sandis Bralitis won the relay event,
race favourite Gary O’Hanlon of Clonliffe Harriers won the Half Marathon with
Leevale’s Lizzie Lee retaining the ladies crown.
FULL RESULTS see www.championchipireland.com
