Another golden performance by Martina
Mayo AC runners who took park in the Tourmakeady 8k, from left: Tony O’Malley, Angela O’Connor, Martina O’Connor, Tadgh Hanrahan, Ray Clarke and Dee Corcoran.
Athletics: No fewer than 29 members of Mayo Athletic Club were competing across four different events on the same weekend. The Out of the Woods Tourmakeady 8k took place on Sunday, April 14 along the Glensaul river and up through country roads with views over Lough Mask.
The men’s race was won by Cathal Kennedy in 27:16 while the women’s race was won by Mayo AC’s own Martina O’Connor in 31:35. It was Martina’s third podium finish out of her four most recent races.
Other Mayo AC finishers included: 5th, Tadgh Hanrahan 31:40; 7th, Tony O’Malley 31:23; 12th, Ray Clarke 34:36; 13th, Angela O’Connor 35:00 (third woman); Dee Corcoran 37:00, Gillian Hanrahan 37:00, David Crowley 40:38, Karl O’Malley 44:26, Martin Parsons 42:00.
The day before, the Westport Marathon included marathon, half-marathon and 10k distances. The half marathon winner was Hugh Armstrong of Ballina AC who crossed the line in 1:06.24. Aisling O’Connor (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) won the women’s half marathon in 1:28.05 and subsequently finished second in the Great Ireland Run in Dublin on Sunday in 38:17.
Mayo AC finishers in the half marathon were as follows: Kevin Jennings 1:22.36, Michael Rocke 1:23.07, John Gordon 1:26.18 (1st Mo50), Gerry Kirrane 1:25.32, John Brennan 1:25.32, Neil Carroll 1:26.43, Damien Finnegan 1:28.10 (PB), Colette Tuohy 1:38.05, Thomas O’Brien 1:38.35, Dee Finnegan 1:38.43, Tony Hegarty 1:41.23, Ruth Carney 1:44.04, Luke Horkan 1:45.31, Tom Jennings 1:53.57, Monica Joyce 1:55.22.
The 10k winner was John Regan in 34:14 with Westport native Ellen Moran of Galway City Harriers winning the women’s 10k in 34:56. Mayo AC finishers were Art Maguire 41:14 and Lucy Tuohy 47:48.
Justin McDonagh ran 28:00 in the second race of Roscommon Harriers AC 5k Series on Friday evening, April 12 while the following day saw the fourth and final race in the Run Clare series, which was the Kilkishen 10 mile. Paula Donnellan Walsh finished second woman in a personal best of 1:11.30, behind race winner Shauna Moran who ran 1:07.48. The men’s race was won by Gavin Purcell in 1:03:40. Conditions were described by some finishers as challenging, breezy and hilly. Only nine of the 382 finishers came home in under 70 minutes.
Remember to visit www.mayoac.com where you can register for the 2024 Intersport Elverys Mayo AC five race 5k Series which begins on Tuesday, May 14 in Castlebar.
