AAI “Virtual” National 5 Mile Championships 2020 (5th July)

Mullingar women to the fore in Virtual Irish Runner 5 Mile

Back in June 2019, Mullingar Harriers athletes won seven individual medals and two sets of team medals at the Irish Runner 5 Mile, which incorporated the AAI National 5 Mile Championships. Due to Covid-19, like the Irish Runner 5k a month before, this year the event was a “virtual” one and adhering to social distancing guidelines contestants ran 5 miles on their own any day between Monday 29th June and Sunday 5th July, recorded their run on a GPS watch and submitted their time online. Finishing well up in 10th place was Evan McCormack in 29:35. Also running really well was Mary Stuart (35:26) 7th woman, Joan Hickson (36:01) 9th woman, Linda Cunningham (36:53) 17th woman, and Criona Reid (37:05) 18th woman, to give four Mullingar women in the top twenty, which is impressive. They were followed by Michael O’Sullivan (38:08) and Kevin O’Brien (39:48). As with the Virtual 5k, it was good to see Mullingar athletes embracing the “new normal” with such enthusiasm.