There were four Mayo AC competitors in the National 5 mile Championships which took place in the Phoenix Park Dublin on Sunday morning June 11.
The 5 mile race was the second event in the 2023 Athletics Ireland Race Series (Irish Runner). The more commonly run 8k distance is approximately 4.97 miles.
The Mayo AC runners won three individual and one team medal: gold for Angela O’Connor F55 and Pauline Moran F65 and silver for Paula Donnellan F40. Colette Tuohy finished 5th F50.
Their F50 team Angela O’Connor, Colette Touhy, and Pauline Moran won silver with a combined time of 1:41.49, just 16 seconds behind winners Celbridge AC 1:41.33. There were five F50 teams.
Also in team competitions two Ballina natives were part of gold medal winning teams. Serena Tuffy was part of the Dundrum South Dublin AC Senior team who came first of 17 (mostly Dublin) clubs. She ran 30:51.
Likewise Mark Naylor (son of Mayo AC’s Ronnie) was part of the Liffey Valley AC team who won senior men’s gold – he ran an excellent 26:37, 12th overall. Mark ran 16.01 in the recent National 5k.
Apart from our four, there was only a handful of runners who made the early start from the West.
Mayo AC results (gross times)
Number in brackets = total finishers in category
Angela O’Connor F55 1st 33:35 (16)
Pauline Moran F65 1st 34:22 (3)
Colette Tuohy F50 5th 33:54 (27)
Paula Donnellan Walsh F40 2nd 34:24 (21)
Race winner: Emmett Jennings Dundrum South Dublin AC 24:37, first woman Meghan Ryan Dundrum South Dublin AC 28:07.
June 11:
Slliabh Bán AC 10k Strokestown June 11.
A one lap course starting on N5, rural loop and crossing N5 again before finish at Strokestown Park.
Mayo AC finishers: Andrew Hayes 9th in 39:25, and Caitlín Woods 54:48.
Race winner Adrian Smith Roscommon Harriers AC 35:51, first woman Adrianna Mulligan Longford AC 6th overall 37:52.
June 10:
Two Mayo AC club members completed the Portumna Forest marathon on Saturday June 10.
Darren Flanagan finished first in 2:52.30 a PB, with John Gordon second in 2:54.41
John and Darren have completed a number of marathons in last few years and both ran the 50k distance in Portumna last year.
June 5:
In Templemore Co Tipperary was Day 2 of the Munster Junior, Under 23, Senior and Masters Track and Field Championships
John Walkin Mayo AC competed as guest in heat 2 of the 200m and came third M40 in a season’s best 25:91.
June 4:
There were 13,781 finishers in the Annual Vhi Women’s 10k in Dublin on June 4. Finish times were generally affected by the warm conditions.
Dee Finnegan Mayo AC finished in a creditable 122nd place in 47:49.
She ran all four of the Intersport Elverys Mayo AC 5k Series 5k series last month with a PB 22:02 in the Ballinrobe 5k.
Dublin Vhi Women’s 10k Winner was Nakita Burke Letterkenny AC in 34:27
June 3:
Two Mayo AC runners were among the finishers in the annual Maugherow Co Sligo 10k on June 3.
Ray Clarke came home 12th in 42:58 and Dee Corcoran in 44:39, 4th woman. This regularly racing duo have made significant strides in improving their times at various distances in last couple of years.
Race winner was Donal Egan North Sligo AC.
The annual Cork City Marathon, Half Marathon and 10k took place on June 4 in warm conditions – a tough day for competitors.
Two Mayo AC masters women – Marcella McDonnell and Caitlín Woods – took the trip south and had an early start for their events.
Caitlín ran the marathon in 4:16.44 – a PB! and Marcella finished with 2:02.23 in the Half.