News

Sean Tobin (Clonmel AC) and Shona Heaslip (An Riocht AC) secured the national 10k titles this afternoon in a superb display of road racing around the Dunboyne route in County Meath (March 24th).

The men’s race was billed as a one of the deepest 10k fields in some time, and it didn’t disappoint with the first three athletes across the line all breaking the 30-minute mark.

Tobin, who led the race from the opening kilometre, lead them home in 29.17 having battled to gold off Pierre Murchan (Dublin City Harriers) over the final two kilometres. Murchan would cross in 29.21, followed in by Emmet Jennings (DSD) who picked up yet another national road medal.

Speaking after the race, Tobin said, “I’ve had a big month of mileage. I’ve been putting in a lot of work as I’m getting ready for the London marathon, but I was still hoping to break 29 minutes today and close the last 3k hard, but the legs were a big flat today and Pierre put a bit of pressure over the last 2k so he forced me to work.

“I had planned to run the Barcelona half as my last race before London, but I got quite ill in January, and it took me six or seven weeks to get right. Things started to click again in the last week or two and at the last minute I decided to jump in on this and it’s worked out which is great. It’s great to break things up a bit, I finished this week with close to 120 miles in the legs so it’s a nice way to finish off the week. I’ve two more weeks of hard work to go and then we’ll start to taper. For London, I just want to run well and not worry about the outcome, and hopefully have a positive start to what will be a long marathon career.”

Mitchell Byrne (6th) lead Rathfarnham WSAF AC to the team title with four athletes inside the top 30.

The women’s race looked to have just as much quality, and it too lived up to expectations with Shona Heaslip storming clear over the final kilometres to cross in a course record time of 32:49.

Speaking after the race, Heaslip said, “I’ve been fortunate that since I’ve come back from my injury things have been going really well on the road and the plan going forward is hopefully the European half marathon in June if selected. Then hopefully I’ll be moving up to the marathon later this year with the debut being, fingers crossed, Valencia.”

Heaslip was followed home by a fast-finishing Ann Marie McGlynn (Letterkenny AC) 33:10 for bronze, with national cross country champion Fiona Everard (Bandon AC) 33:22 taking bronze.

Over 1200 participants completed today’s Dunboyne 10k, with over 900 taking to championship competition. Athletics Ireland would like to thank all in Dunboyne AC for an outstanding event.

Full results can be found HERE.