HIGHLIGHTS The marathon returned to the streets of Dublin on Sunday 28 October for the first time since 2019 and a strong Donore contingent took to the line on a mild and sunny October day. The wet and windy weather conditions of the week leading up to the race did not materialise on race day. This also made for what was probably the best spectatorship of any Dublin marathon of recent years according to runners and observers
REPORT First Donore man home was the ever improving Wayne Waldron who finished inside the top 50 in a PB of 2.37.53. Running with Wayne for some of the race was another relatively recent member Ian Fitzgerald who ran 2.40.58 – in 2019 Ian ran 3.45 in this same race showing the remarkable improvement he has made in the past 3 years. The pair of Ken Nugent 2.44.32 and Luke Boland 2.44.37 (PB) were next in. First Donore female in an incredible 2.45.43 was Sorcha Loughnane after the European 50k championship only a few weeks ago. Running in tandem with her was Niamh Clifford who finished in 2.46.05, another remarkable achievement after her 2.45 in Berlin only 5 weeks ago. These performances put these runners well up in the ranks of Irish female endurance runners at the moment finishing 5th and 6th Irish women in the national championship and 8th and 9th females overall.
Dave McConn admitted he had a tough last 15 miles but still finished in 2.47.10. Fergal Whitty who has many great runs in the Dublin marathon finished in 2.47.38. Alan Keogh was delighted with his 2.48.30 PB. Peter Gaffney has made a good return to form in recent months and the M50 runner finished in 2.49.22. Alasdair Brown in his 12th marathon was next in 2.55.09, a one minute PB. Declan Lynch ran 2.57.59 despite illness during the week. Andy Kinane finished in 2.58.31. Grace Kennedy-Clarke made a play for running under 3 hours and was very close – 3.01.48 in a 4 minute PB and the 3rd Donore woman over the line. Paul Whitty brother of Fergal came in next in 3.03.50.
Kevin Odgers’ marathon didn’t quite go to plan but he still got 3.08.01 and a PB. Juvenile club coach Joe Kelly finished in 3.08.13. Anne Curley in her 30th marathon and only 5 weeks after racing the Berlin marathon ran an excellent 3.08.28 and in the top W50 national finishers. Chris Muldoon and Tony Barry had been on sub 3 hour pace but had to settle for 3.11.46 and 3.12.35 respectively. A very tough last 6 miles saw Florence Curley fade to 3.24.38 after a good start. Likewise Gavin White in his marathon debut had hamstring trouble on the course and had to make many stops but finished in 3.25.01. Amy Moriarty was very pleased with her 3.25.51 in her first marathon in many years. Dean Fullston was just a few seconds off his PB in 3.26.18. Tony Griffin was next in 3.26.42. Pam White got a PB of 3.27.52. JP O’Hanlon was delighted to break 3.30 in a new PB of 3.28.59. Ariana Ball had a tough race but she finished in 3.31.16, and Oliver O’Hara was next in 3.31.21 Louise Kelly had an excellent run in a new PB of 3.38.01. Stephen Dawson had a hard day out on the course but battled to the finish in 3.43.05. An injury picked up in the last 2 weeks meant Suzie Henley Willis had to adjust her original race pace from original target and she finished in 3.50.31. Des Gill achieved a 3.50.43.
Katherine Marsh came in under the 4 hour mark in 3.56.59. Noel Davis finished in 4.04.49 and Sean Browne 4.06.14. Dana Mackey has several Dublin marathons to her name and she finished here in 4.45.36. Michelle Dawson had a tough day but finished in 4.52.47 and Anna McMahon ran 5.44.36.
Like every marathon there were ups and downs – PBs and some tremendous performances, not everyone hit their target time and some suffered, we had a few athletes who unfortunately had to retire mid-race , but all should be proud of taking on the beast that is the marathon.
The support around the course was tremendous, Donore supporters seemed to pop up everywhere. Also a great job as always was done at the water station outside the clubhouse just after the 9 mile mark where an army of Donore volunteers had set up from very early in the morning – thanks Peter Nugent and Tom Fagan for leading the effort. Many Donore members also work at the marathon finish area and it was great to see friendly and familiar faces after coming over the finish line.
We await the official results of the national, Leinster and Dublin marathon championships where we will definitely feature in categories and team honours – well done all. Thanks to Mick Bourke, Amy Moriarty,Suzie Henley Willis and Charlie O’Neill for the selection of photos
Results list (chip times)
Wayne Waldron 2.37.53
Ian Fitzgerald 2.40.58
Ken Nugent 2.44.32
Luke Boland 2.44.37
Sorcha Loughnane 2.45.43
Niamh Clifford 2.46.05
Dave McConn 2.47.10
Fergal Whitty 2.47.38
Alan Keogh 2.48.30
Peter Gaffney 2.49.22
Alasdair Brown 2.55.09
Declan Lynch 2.57.59
Andy Kinane 2.58.31
Grace Kennedy 3.01.48
Paul Whitty 3.03.50
Kevin Odgers 3.08.01
Joe Kelly 3.08.13
Anne Curley 3.08.28
Chris Muldoon 3.11.46
Tony Barry 3.12.35
Florence Curley 3.24.38
Gavin White 3.25.01
Amy Moriarty 3.25.51
Dean Fullston 3.26.18
Tony Griffin 3.26.42
Pam White 3.27.52
JP O’Hanlon 3.28.59
Ariana Ball 3.31.16
Oliver O’Hara 3.31.21
Louise Kelly 3.38.01
Stephen Dawson 3.43.05
Des Gill 3.50.43
Katherine Marsh 3.56.59
Noel Davis 4.04.49
Sean Browne 4.06.14
Dana Mackey 4.45.36
Michelle Dawson 4.52.47
Anna McMahon 5.44.36
While the excitement of the Dublin marathon took over this weekend, over in the US, the college cross country season is in full swing. Abel Laadjel and Louis O’Loughlin were in action for their college teams Providence and Auburn
“The Big East” is a major race in the season and this year it was hosted by Abdel’s college Providence on Saturday October 28th on the Mark Coogan course in Attleboro Massachusetts. The “Friars” finished 2nd out of 9 teams with Abdel securing a 24th place for this team on the 5.6k course in 24.25 – there were 85 runners in all.
Down in the deep South Louis O’Loughlin was happy with his performance at the South Eastern Conference (SEC) cross country championship held at Oxford Mississippi by “Ole Miss” college. He finished 25th out of a field of 125 in the 8k course in 24.04.23 and ran the last kilometre under 2.50
In other race news, a belated result from the Athgarvan GAA & LGFA funrun on October 23rd, Maura Kearns was 5th overall and first woman in the 5k race in 18.55