COURSE RECORDS COULD BE IN DANGER.
The elite field of athletes for Sundays showdown is second to none and that's in both Ladies and Men's. The hard working race team have been working away behind the scenes in securing yet again many of the big name's on the Irish road racing scene for the event, and they are guaranteeing the public a race that will be a spectacular sight for those who come along to view it with what promises to be a battle royal for the top placing. We have not one but two international cross country athletes who performed admirably at the European cross in December in Bulgaria Mick Clohisey Raheny Shamrocks AC was the team captain for the championships and he is the current Irish national cross country champion . Mick is also the current national half marathon champions with a winning time of 65 minutes. Mark Hanrahan Leevale AC , also a member of the Irish cross country team in Bulgaria is participating, Mark is the current national 10k Irish champion won in a time of 30.44 ,he is the current Cork senior cross country champion. Galway's international athlete Garry Thornton is a sub 49 minute ten mile athlete, Gary has a marathon p.b. of 2.17 and has ran 63 minute for the half, That's quality. winner of the race in 2012 in a course record time of 49.25 Sean Hehir, a marathon pb of 2.17 and a half marathon best of 65 minutes. along with a host of excellent club athletes including James Mc Carthy of East Cork AC ,Micheal Mac Diarmada Clonliffe Harriers a 2.25 marathon runner. In the ladies race we have Siobhan O Doherty a winner of the ladies Dublin mini marathon Siobhan has a 10 mile pb of 57.32 a member of the Irish cross country team who took part in the European championships in December in Bulgaria she is the only lady to have won the Dungarvan 10 on 3 occasions when winning in 2010,2011 and 2014 .If the Ladies coarse record is to be broken it could very well fall to a 10 mile first timer as Irish international athlete Mary Cullen who is coached by Ray Treacy comes into the race with a superb 5 mile pb of 25.35,This will be Mary's first attempt over the 10 mile distance. The Sligo AC athlete is the Irish record holder over 3.000 meters , She was a 4th place finisher at the European cross country in 2008.
