To start the week Lindie Naughton brings us all the Irish endurance action and news from the weekend just gone (Monday 28th October).
Hiko Tonosa of Dundrum South Dublin AC proved the star of the show at the Irish Life Dublin Marathon on Sunday (October 27) not only finishing third over and first Irish athlete, but also breaking the Irish record with his time of 2 hrs 9 mins 42 secs.
That times takes seven seconds off Stephen Scullion’s time of 2:09. 9 set in the London Marathon of 2020. John Treacy’s time of 2:09:15 run in the 1988 Boston Marathon, a hill course which is not eligible for record purposes, remains the fastest marathon time ever run by an Irish man.
How the record happened
With the cool, dry conditions perfect for racing, Tonosa stuck with the leaders for much of the race and went through halfway with the leading group in 64:12. With about three miles to go, he was lying a close fifth of the back of the lead pack, which was led by eventual winner Moses Kemei of Kenya finished in 2:08:47 with Ethiopia’s Abebaw Desalew second in 2:09:24.
Kemei leading the Irish Life Dublin Marathon just after the 22-mile mark. Photo: Lindie Naughton
In the chase for the line, Tonosa beat another Ethiopian Anraraw Misganaw by just two seconds to nail down third place.
Tonosa, born in Ethiopia, has lived in Ireland since 2017 when he applied for political asylum. He became an Irish citizen in 2020. He wears the Irish vest with enormous pride and has already represented his new homeland at European and world level.
He had hoped to make the qualifying time for the marathon at the Paris Olympics at the LondonMarathon last April but was forced to drop due to injury. At the Larne Half Marathon in late August, he proved that he regained much of his fitness when he clocked a time of 62:46; not far off the time of 62:23 he had run in the same race a year earlier.
With pre-race favourite Hugh Armstong a last minute withdrawal from the race, for a second year, Ryan Creech (Leevale AC) finished second Irish man in 2:13.49 with William Muansell (Clonmel AC) third and first M35 in 2:14.23, also for a second year.
First Irishwoman for a second year – Ann-Marie McGlynn. Photo: Lindie Naughton
A successful defence for McGlynn
Ann-Marie McGlynn (Letterkenny AC), now aged 44, successfully defended the women’s’title she won for the first time last year, finishing sixth overall in 2:34:05. Overall race winner was Asmirach Nega of Ethiopia who ran a course record time of 2:24:13 and was also first W40. In an Ethiopian clean sweep, Sorome Negash was second in 2:24:45 and Grete Dukale third in 2:28:29.
Aoife Kilgallon (Sligo AC) was second Irishwoman, finishing eighth overall in 2:35:56, with Grace Lynch (Dundrum South Dublin) third 2:36:09; both times were personal bests. Finishing fourth and first W45 was Gladys Ganiel (North Belfast Harriers) who had finished second Irishwoman last year.
Nega on her way to a course record; shielded by David McCarthy (West Waterford AC). Photo: Lindie Naughton
British Paralympian Sean Frame from Scotland was out on his own in the wheelchair race finishing in 1 hr 45 mins 14 secs. In Boston last April, Frame ended up with a fractured skull and a dislocated shoulder after a collision. It took him a few months to recover but in Berlin a few weeks ago, he finished in 1:35.35. A year earlier, he had finished in 1:31.18.
In the visually impaired category, Paralympian Jason Dunkerley, guided by Raheny Shamrock’s Mark Kirwan finished in 2:48.57. Dunkerley, originally from Newtownards, Northern Ireland, emigrated with his family to Canada as a teenager. Now aged 47, he has competed in two Paralympic Games.
Age group results see strong performances too
In the age groups, Carolyn Hayes (West Limerick AC) was first W35 in 2:57.25, London Olympian Caitriona Jennings (LetterkennyAC) third W40 behind Naga and McGlynn in 2:40.31, Patricia Kenworthy first W50 in 3:05.36, Colette Tuohy (Mayo AC) first 55 in 3:10.55 and Tracey Guilfoyle (Kilnaboy AC) first W60 in 3:18.49.
Winning the W65 age group was Grainne Grennan (Blackrock AC), with many times former champion Mary Jennings finishing third in that age group, while Eileen O’Brien (Lucan Harriers) was first over 70.
Despite a doubt that she would even start the race due to ongoing hip problems, Mary Nolan Hickey (Sli Cualann AC), the only woman to have completed all Dublin Marathons to date, managed to finished fifth W70 in 5:2518. Colette O’Hagan (North East Runners) not only completed her 1,000 marathon but also finished first W75 in 6:27.23, while first W80 was Terri Gough (West Waterford AC) in 7:16.15
Gareth King running over 100k in the Anglo Celtic Plate in 2022.
Of the men, Gareth King (Portadown RC) was first M40 in 2:21.54, Alexander Wallace (St Coca’s AC) first M45 in 2:28.33, John Lee (Trim AC) first M50 in 2:434.38, Pauric McKinney (Inishowen AC) first M55 in 2:39.43, Eddie Newman (Mullingar Harriers) first M60 in 2:50.41.
In the M65 age group, James Cottle (Crusaders AC) was first in 3:11; Maurice O’Connell (Raheny Shamrock AC) was first M70, John McCann first M75 in 4:09.41 and Frances Conroy first M80 in 4:55.51.
A Northern Irish record for Irwin in Valencia
Away from Dublin there was an excellent run from Hannah Irwin, running 70:45 at Valencia half marathon, where several records were set on the day. This improved her own N.I. half marathon record. Just behind Irwin was Emily Haggard Kearney with 71:26, just off the 70:45 she ran at the same race last year.
The post New Irish record for Tonosa – weekend round-up appeared first on Fast Running.
Source: fastrunning.com