The 2025 National Marathon Championships will take place this Sunday in conjunction with the Irish Life Dublin Marathon (October 26th).
The classic distance always provides plenty of drama as the likely favourites and their challengers tackle the 26.2 mile test around the streets of Dublin. The battle for both the senior men’s and women’s titles should be hotly contested with several athletes boasting strong recent form heading into the weekend, while defending champions Hiko Tonosa (Dundrum South Dublin AC) and Ann Marie McGlynn (Strabane AC) also look set to take to the start-line in defence of their 2024 titles.
McGlynn’s experience could prove decisive once again as she bids to make it three national marathon championships in a row. Her national title wins in 2023 and last year came after near misses in 2022 and 2019, consistency that makes her the one to beat once again on Sunday.
Among the challengers are Meath’s Nichola Sheridan (Bohermeen AC), winner of the Dublin City Half Marathon in March who looks set to return for her third Dublin Marathon, while Caitlyn Harvey of Road Runners AC comes into the weekend fresh off a victory in the Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon last month.19-year-old Ava Crean (Back 2 Boston Running Club) will be buoyed by her recent 74:06 half marathon in Manchester and could be one to make a bold bid for the leading placings.
Raheny Shamrock AC appear to have plenty of strength in depth again this year and they will look to put in a strong showing in pursuit of the senior team title.
On the men’s side, Hiko Tonosa’s late declaration to run has put him as the leading contender to defend his crown. Tonosa was third in the overall race last year and a reproduction of the 2:09:41 which saw him secure the national title on that occasion will make him hard to catch.
Cork’s Ryan Creech (Leevale AC), twice a runner-up, looks the chief threat once again and could head a strong Leevale challenge in the race for the team title. Dundrum South Dublin’s Paul O’Donnell ran a 2:10:17 marathon earlier this season and would work himself into contention, while Clare’s Jake O’Regan (St John’s AC) could also be in the mix after his win at the national half marathon in Tullamore in August, which he followed up with victory in the 2025 Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon last month. The ever-consistent William Maunsell (Clonmel AC) is also listed among the entries, and few would rule him out of making the national podium once again following last year’s superb third place finish.
There will be no shortage of drama in the race for category honours which look as competitive as ever with over to 3,400 championship entries set to battle it out.
The race start time is set for 8.45am with race results available on the Dublin Marathon website. National Marathon results will be made available after this year’s Dublin Marathon once they have been verified.
