from A.A.I Irish Elite Team Perform Well in Great Ireland Run
A record crowd of over 10,000 runners took to the roads of the Phoenix Park, Dublin in the seventh Great Ireland Run. In near perfect running conditions the Irish Elite athletes performed well with three male athletes and two female athletes making the top six in what was a truly International field.
In the men’s race Rui Pedro Silva triumphed in a close finish which saw the first four runners separated by just four seconds. Runner-up was Kenya’s Paul Tergat, followed by Mulligar Harriers Martin Fagan with Andrew Carlson of the USA in fourth. Vinney Mulvey of Raheny AC finished 5th in 29:28 ahead of Clonliffe’s Mark Kenneally in 29:34.
“I felt flat and didn’t feel good,” said Fagan who broke the Irish half marathon record a few weeks ago. “It was horrible but I wouldn’t have missed the race for the world as I wanted to run on home soil.
In the women’s race Ireland and North Sligo AC runner Mary Cullen made a brave bid for victory but was beaten by Ana Dulce Felix of Portugal who finished 15th in last week’s world cross country championships. Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia was third. Deirdre Byrne put in yet another fine performance to finish 6th in 33:44.
“That can only make me stronger for the summer season and I’m certainly thinking of doing a few more 10km races in the future.”
Cullen is focused on the World Championships in Berlin, in August, added:
“My top priority is to achieve the 5000m qualifier of 15min 10sec and I hope to do this shortly at a meeting in California
Results
Men
1. Rui Pedro Silva (Portugal) 28:45
2. Paul Tergat (Kenya) 28:46
3. Martin Fagan (Ireland) 28:47
4. Andrew Carlson (USA) 28:48
5. Vinny Mulvey (Ireland) 29:28
6. Mark Kenneally (Ireland) 29:34
Women
1. Ana Dulce Felix (Portugal) 32:18
2. Mary Cullen (Ireland) 32:25
3. Jelena Prokopcuka (Latvia) 32:30
4. Sally Barsosio (Kenya) 33:04
5. Fernanda Ribeiro (Portugal) 33:42
6. Deirdre Byrne (Ireland) 33:44
Junior Run Boys (2.8 km)
1. Kevin Dooney (Raheny Shamrocks) 9:47
2. Eoin Taggart (Blessington Valley) 9:56
3. Samuel Allen (St Coca’s) 10:08
Junior Run Girls (2.8 km)
1. Ciara Hewson (Mullingar Harriers) 10:36
2. Megan Morrissey (Thomastown AC) 10:56
3. Emer Kennedy (Thurles Crokes) 11:13