Over 500 athletes compete in Tallaght 5k Road Race
THE Tallaght 5K Road Race which was held for the first time on St Patrick’s Day and attracted more than 500 entries saw the title go the way of Rathfarnham athlete Mitchell Byrne who dictated the pace from the start and crossed the finish line in 14.44, ahead of Eoin Smyth (Tara A.C.) 15.12 with Cormac Dixon the first Tallaght athlete home in 3rd place with a time of 15.19.
Laura McDonnell (Rathfarnham/WSAF A.C.) was the first Senior woman across to cross the line in 17.28 with Aoife O’Leary (Sportsworld) 2nd and Aoife Coffey (Lucan Harriers) 3rd.
George Smee (Dunboyne A.C.) won the M40 category with Ciaran Aylward, Rathfarnham and Frank Hague (Metro St Brigid’s AC) finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively and first prize in the F40 went to Caoimhe Kilroy (Metro St Brigids A.C.) with Kate O’Neill (Metro St Brigids A.C.) and Ciara Peelo (Clonliffe Harriers) filling the minor placings.
Colm Costello (Brothers Pearse) won top prize in the M45 category with Ian O’Reilly (Brothers Pearse) and Ian McGrath (Solid Runners) taking 2nd and 3rd respectively, while Sinead Tighe (Brothers Pearse) finished ahead of Audrey Gahan (Donore Harriers) and Clare Shiels (Rathfarnham/WSAF) in the F45 category.
The M50 category was won by Dermot Shiels (Rathfarnham/WSAF A.C.) with David Leonard (Sliabh Bhuide Rovers AC) taking 2nd ahead of Gary Farrell (Lucan Harriers), and in the F50 category Breda Smyth (Lucan Harriers) took the top prize Marie Diggin (Celbridge A.C.) and Anne Linton taking the minor prizes.
Top prize in the M55 went to Paul Cowie (Crusaders AC) with Sean Browne (DSD) and Edwin Keville (Rathfarnham/WSAF AC) taking the minor honours while Carol Dempsey claimed the top prize in the F55 ahead of Sharon McGrane and Ann Sweeney (Sportsworld).
Members of Donore Harriers at the Tallaght 5K Road Race
Niall Coppinger finished top in the M60 category Tom Cuddy (Rathfarnham/WSAF A.C.) and Sean Bailey (Dunboyne) finishing 2nd and 3rd, and in the F60 category Fiona Byrne (Civil Service A.C.) finished first ahead of Jean Carr (Clonliffe Harriers) and Maureen McGinley (Crusaders).
Joe Duggan (Reservoir Dogs) finished 1st in the M65 category with Gerry Woods (Tallaght) and Joe Boland the next two finishers while Anne Golden was first in the F65 category with Breda Woods (Tallaght A.C.) second and Jean O’Reilly (Waterstown Warriors A.C.) in third.
Chris Keogh was first in the M70 with Trevor Llyod (Sportsworld) and Orest Dubyniak (Tallaght AC) filling the minor placings while Eileen O’Brien won the F70 prize and was followed home by Ann O’Donnell (Waterstown Warriors A.C.) and Robin Ann Bryan.
There was a big Donore turnout which also doubled as the Dublin Novice championship.
This race used to be staged in May and the weather stayed pleasant for the 11 Donore athletes who toed the line in the one loop race which starts on the Blessington Road and finishes on the Tallaght AC track.
First in was Diego Martinez Torres in just over 17 minutes (17.02) Craig Scott (17.23) and Simon O’Toole came in close together.
Returning from an injury layoff was Peter Brennan who was happy with his 18.47.
First Donore woman home was Audrey Gahan in 20.02 and Suzie Henley Willis finished in 21.47. Louise Kelly was next in 22.01.
Making a race comeback too was Diorela Escalera Claros in 22.26. John Curran has come back from injury to compete again and finished in 23.53.
Sarah Ni Ruairc 26.27 and Michelle Dawson 26.34 were next in.
There was great support out there too from some coaches, captains and clubmates – great running everyone.
