Wednesday 6 June 2012


 
 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