AAI National 5 Mile Championships 2019 (15th June)

Individual and team medal winning performances in National 5 Mile

The Irish Runner 5 mile in the Phoenix Park on Saturday morning 15th June incorporated the AAI National 5 Mile Championships and Mullingar Harriers featured very strongly in the individual and team medals. There was heavy rain in the hours leading up to the event but just before the race, the weather improved and there were even glimpses of sun from time to time during the race. Even though the wind had picked up before the race leaving it that bit harder for participants, there was a nice breeze on the runners’ backs on the home straight, which must have cheered the 1,276 finishers.

Having a brilliant run, Aine O’Reilly finished well up in 30:21, the 2nd woman to finish and with Joan Flynn (32:01) 3rd in her master category and Michelle Bohan (32:53) 1st in her master category also finishing strongly, the Mullingar women finished 1st Club in their master category. Eileen Kenny (36:32) finished 1st in her master category, and with great team support from Patricia Broderick (37:32), Brigid McCabe (40:57) 3rd in her master category and Emer O’Hanlon (41:01), this team finished 2nd Club in their master category.

Des Walsh finished in 58:32 placing 2nd in his master category and Geraldine Walsh finished in 63:22 winning the gold medal for 1st place in her master category. Also competing were Gerard Brady (31:12) and Michael O’Sullivan (38:31).

Two sets of team medals and seven individual medals marks this out as one of the most successful road race outings for Mullingar, so congratulations to them all.