The National Half Marathon Championships took place on September 10. They were incorporated in the Ratoath AC half marathon. This marked a welcome return of the annual event for first time since 2019.
Runners had a early race start on a beautiful still autumn morning at Fairyhouse Racecourse.
Well done to the 10 members of Mayo AC who competed. They produced some fantastic quality perfomances and excellent results right the way through from 35+ to M70+ in the master’s categories.
Mayo AC had two teams and all ten individuals competed for national medals in various categories.
These are their finish times:
Women’s W50 team:
Monica Joyce W60 1:46.20 = a brilliant pb – which says it all! And placed fifth in F60 category just ahead of Mayo native Mary Browne Lucan Harriers AC.
Colette Tuohy W50 1:31.30 – a well deserved bronze for another consistent performance in this very competitive category.
Pauline Moran W65 1:34.08: A clear winner of F65 gold in a new pb – amazing perfomance after World Mountain Running gold the previous week.
Pauline's 1:34.03 finish time is also a new W65 National Half-marathon record beating Mary Lynch Raheny Shamrock AC who ran 1:39 in 2018.
Their cumulative 4:51.57 time earned them gold W50 team ahead of Raheny Shamrock and Lucan ACs.
Men’s 35+ team
Andrew Hayes M40 1:29.40
Michael Kelly M35 1:27.57
Darren Flanagan M35 1:21.44 led the Mayo runners home.
Tom McNicholas M45 1:38.37
First three Andrew, Michael and Darren cumulative time 4:19.15, in a very creditable 20th place of 40 teams.
Other individuals included
Paula Donnellan W40 1:35.19,
James Murtagh M55 2:03.26.
Paraic Sweeney M70 ran 1:39.01 - a wonderful run by the Achill athlete over his favourite distance, and he won a brilliant gold M70 just two seconds ahead of a great master runner Barrie Potts of Donore Harriers AC.
Congratulations to W50 team and individual medal winners ColetteTuohy, Pauline Moran and Paraic Sweeney.
