Mayo AC runners competed far and wide at five locations over the weekend : Galway, Sligo, Slovenia, Tarmonbarry, and Chicago .
Galway Bay races took place on Saturday October 7 starting from Nimmo’s Pier at the Claddagh.
Congratulations to Norah Newcombe Pieterse winner of the Galway Bay women’s half marathon in 79:50. She’s long been the club's leading woman athlete over a number of distances on the road.
Her brilliant perfomance in Galway saw her maintain the form that won her bronze in the National Half-marathoin championships in Tullamore in August in 79.14.
In the full marathon, Neil Carroll came home in an excellent 3:06.15. He ran 1:28.44 in the River Moy half-marathon last May.
Well done also to Catherine McHugh Mayo AC who was fifth F40 in the Galway Bay 10k in 43:34.
On Friday evening (October 6) in Slovenia, Paula Donnellan Walsh competed in two mountain trail races at Šmarna Gora on the outskirts of the capital Ljubljana.
It was a Silver Label event in the World Mountain running calendar.
In a 'vertical mile' race of 1.85k with 360m of ascent, 17 runners competed in the women’s race.
Susanna Saapunki Finland was the winner in a new course record by 12 seconds in 13:06.
Sharon Woods was first of the 4 Irish runners in 8th place 17:59.
Well done to Paula Donnellan Walsh who came home 14th and 4th Irish finisher in 20:54.
And on Saturday there was a 10k race on similar terrain also at Šmarna Gora with 710m ascent and 350m descent – the course described as “a blend of tough climbs, fast running and technical trails”.
In the Women’s race there were 21 finishers with Susanna Saapunki Finland winning again in 49.41.
And Paula Donnellan Walsh Mayo AC finished the tough 10k challenge in a creditable 19th place in 1:13.46 .
On Sunday October 8, North Sligo AC hosted their annual Grange 10k
Seamus Somers M50 Sligo AC was the winner in 33:39, Heather Foley F40 Sligo AC won the women’s race in 39:00
Good running by Jimmy Feeney Mayo AC earned him 2nd M60 in 48:30
Also on Sunday the 40th annual Tarmonbarry 3/4 Marathon, Half Marathon and 8k event was hosted by St Barry’s GAA based at their clubhouse on the N5 just outside the village by the River Shannon.
The three races were held on separate courses.
In the half-marathon
well done to Caitlin Woods who ran 1:58.20.
In the 3/4 marathon her clubmate in Mayo AC Julie Higgins ran 3:11.45 – a good confidence booster as she came home two minutes faster than 2022.
Three Mayo AC members ran in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday morning. It’s a fast and flat course with minimal elevation rise that goes through 29 neighborhoods in the city.
Conditions in Chicago were ideal for running as the field set off in separate waves starting at 7.30am local time.
Great running by these three Mayo AC Chicago Marathon finishers –
Padraic McVann M50 finished in 3:27.17; he was halfway in 1:41.43.
Padraic ran 3:29.15 in Dublin Marathon last year.
Angela McVann W50 finished in 4:05.45; – halfway in 1:57
She ran 4:07.15 in Dublin Marathon 2022.
James Murtagh M55 came home in 5:10.48 – he was halfway at 2:10.05 and reached 30k in 3:07.27.
Well done too to Mattie Coleman M60 Ballina AC – 3:20.01 – a great time having made halfway in 1:35.36.
Chicago winner Kelvin Kiptum KEN broke the World Record with a 2:00.35 finish – subject to ratification. Kiptum won London in April in 2:01.25 to finish 16 seconds faster than the then world record time set by compatriot Eliud Kipchoge in winning the 2022 Berlin Marathon.
Results files from all of these events are at www.mayoac.com
