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{Note: With the results issued as PDF and with no club ID’s on the results – I am going to miss names here so I apologise in advance. I’ll update this report as required. 40 pages of un-club-listed PDF are not easy pickings!}

Ten years on and Bono and the Massive Heads were running to stand still yesterday at the tenth Connemarathon. Once again, in the dicey/ lucky way of Connemara in April, the sun shone gloriously down on a huge field of athletes across half marathon, full marathon and ultramarathon distances.

Aoife Callan led the Athenry ladies home as eleventh woman in the huge half marathon field, in 1:38:51, and Deirdre Quinn scored yet another personal best at the half marathon distance in 1:44:05. Maria Hehir showed good form back on the road finishing exactly on 2 hours. Double congratulations to Treasa Gannon, running with Maria (who ran a personal best at her 3rd running of the race), and to Assumpta Feeney (finishing in 2:25) who both had great races after returning from becoming first time mothers in the last six months. Truly fit for life! Maria Curran continued her road racing adventures with a fine 2:20 finish, despite her pacer being busy in the ultramarathon.

The course record was smashed by Kenyan Sammy Kiron Sittok in the marathon. Owen Curren was the first of the Athenry team home in 3:14:55. Tony Killarney placed strongly just behind Owen on the hilly course in 3:16 taking 35th place in a field of over 500 runners and taking second position in the M50 category. Kieran Guiry finished in 3:46:36 and Barry O’Sullivan ran 4:22:24.

Mick Rice ran a superb 4:29, placing third overall in the ultramarathon field, just ninety meagre seconds behind the second placed runner and retaining his 2010 title of first in the M40 category.

Once again our women’s ultra team of Valerie Glavin and Ruthann Sheahan dazzled, showing barely a hint of the damage inflicted by their great performances at the Espoo 24 hour race in January. Agonisingly, both girls were passed by the eventually second placed woman with the finish line in sight to take third and fourth place respectively, Valerie at 5:32:32 and Ruthann at 5:33:12, exactly 40 seconds apart (one second per mile, ladies) and tailing the second placed runner by another forty seconds.

Apparently the post-race celebratory dancing went on till the small hours; we have no more photographic evidence as to whether Mick and Bono’s new relationship continued onto the dance floor.

Full results at http://www.connemarathon.com/provisional-results-half-full-amp-ultra

Marie O'Connor

12 years 11 months ago

Congrats to all yesterday, Assumpta deserves a clap on the back, what a race misses!! It was a great day. Thanks a million to all who supported us.. especially to Anne Hunter on the hill.

Anonymous

12 years 11 months ago

Congratulations to you all. Really great times. What about the Athenry men in the half marathon Johnny O Connor did a good time and Lyall Guiney??