Great Ireland Run 2022 – incorp. AAI National 10k (9th Apr)
Aine O’Reilly, Elizabeth Carr, Sinead Whitelaw – Senior Women – 1st Club
(back) Emer O’Hanlon, Aine O’Reilly, Michelle Bohan, Liam McGlynn, John Bannon, Eddie Newman, Stephen Naughton (front) Amy Mahony, Aisling Corcoran, Sinead Whitelaw, Elizabeth Carr
Mullingar women to the fore at the Great Ireland Run
The Great Ireland Run made a very welcome return to the Phoenix Park on Saturday 9th April on a great morning for racing with crisp calm conditions and clear blue skies. The race incorporated the AAI National 10k Road Championships, adding a bit more spice to the race. Clubs from all over the country attended, on the hunt for National honours, including sixteen members of Mullingar Harriers among the more than 1,300 entered, though the day belonged to the Mullingar women.
Team results were 4 to score for men in the open race and 3 for women. However, the AAI Championship teams were scored differently leading to a possible difference in the team results in comparison to the open team results. AAI teams were based on the top 4 men and 3 women across the line, just like the open race teams, but because of master teams, which could be declared in advance, once 3 athletes were declared for a master age category, they could not move down and score on a senior team or have another athlete fill their place. It all sounds very confusing, but when the numbers were crunched after the Race, the Mullingar senior women came out on top to retain the title they won the last time the race was held. Great news for our master women as they were victorious too, making it double National success for the Mullingar women. Several Mullingar athletes also won individual medals, adding to the success of the day.
National 10k contestants were in the first wave of runners and the Mullingar athletes were among the big number in this first group. In the women’s race, leading a strong Mullingar team and having a terrific race to finish seventh woman was Elizabeth Carr in 36:53, and with Sinead Whitelaw (37:45) twelfth woman (third in her master category) and Aine O’Reilly (38:35) fourteenth woman (first in her master category), the team finished 1st Club to the delight of all. Following close behind was Michelle Bohan in 39:42, a personal best time, Amy Mahony making an excellent return to racing following injury by recording a new personal best of 40:27, Aisling Corcoran (42:32), Maura Dervin (42:36), third in her master category, Emer O’Hanlon with a strong performance (45:49) and Ciara Dillon (48:42) all racing hard to the finish. The team of Michelle Bohan, Aisling Corcoran and Maura Dervin combined to finish 1st Club in the master women category. A great day for Mullingar women with two National team titles, three masters individual medals and a number of personal bests.
Always prominent throughout and having a great run in the men’s race to come home well up overall and third in his master category was Eddie Newman in an excellent 36:01, followed home by Tony Doran (37:44), Stephen Shanahan (38:04), Pauric Brady (38:23), Stephen Naughton (39:19), Liam McGlynn (42:05) and John Bannon (45:30), all satisfied with their efforts. Eddie Newman, Stephen Naughton and Liam McGlynn combined to finish fourth Club in the master men category, just missing medals.
