Tullamore Half Marathon 2022 – Incorp. Leinster Half (27th Aug)
Mullingar in the medals at Tullamore Half Marathon
While a lot of recent road races were down in numbers, the Tullamore Half Marathon on Saturday morning 27th August was a huge success and hit record numbers. Just over 1,200 signed up for the race and on the day nearly 840 took to the start and finished, among them a good number from Mullingar Harriers. The race incorporated the Leinster Half Marathon Championships, so with individual and team honours up for grabs, it gave an added incentive for a good performance. It was already 19degC when the race started, rising to the low twenties by the finish, tough conditions for a long distance race, but the Mullingar athletes dug deep to turn in some excellent performances, including several personal bests, and winning individual prizes, medals and taking team honours.
The men’s race was won by pre-race favourite Peter Somba (Dunboyne AC) in a new course record of 1 hour 7 minutes 24 seconds and the women’s race was won by Catherine O’Connor (Sli Culann AC) in 1 hour 23 minutes 27 seconds. Finishing very strongly in an excellent eighteenth place against top quality opposition was Andrew Nevin in 1:15:36. Also finishing fast was James Keegan (1:17:38) and Eddie Newman (1:17:52) first in his master category in the open race to win a prize and first in his master category in the Leinster race. Next to finish was Gerard Gavin in 1:18:33, a new personal best to place fourth in his master category in the Leinster race, just missing a Leinster medal, closely followed by Alan Crowley in 1:18:44, also a new personal best. Then came Kedagh Geoghegan (1:19:21), Eoin Clarke (1:21:07), Kris Foster (1:24:07), Tony Doran (1:24:39), James Cribbin (1:25:43) third in his master category in the Leinster race, and Stephen Naughton (1:26:19) second in his master category in the Leinster race. Mary Stuart (1:29:33) ran a personal best and finished very strong to place seventh woman overall and first in her master category in the open race to win a prize and first in her master category in the Leinster race, followed by Tommy Byrne (1:30:35), Aisling Corcoran (1:32:54) fourth in her master category in the Leinster race, but because the first two women were first and second place overall in the race and awarded the Leinster senior medals, Aisling was promoted to second place in her master category to win the Leinster silver medal, a memorable result considering she nearly didn’t run because she had a cold! Emer O’Hanlon (1:40:07) was third in her master category in the Leinster race to win a Leinster medal, followed by Criona Reid (1:48:21), Joan Hickson (1:51:16), Linda Cunningham (1:53:07) delighted with her debut half marathon and Garrett O’Brien (1:53:23), all pleased with their races in tough conditions.
In the Quinlan Cup, with four to score, the Mullingar men team of Andrew Nevin, James Keegan, Eddie Newman and Gerard Gavin was 2nd Club and in the Delaney Cup, also with four to score, the Mullingar women team of Mary Stuart, Aisling Corcoran, Emer O’Hanlon and Criona Reid was 3rd Club. There were no prizes for these second or third place teams but there were team medals in the Leinster race, where it was three to score on teams. Mary Stuart, Aisling Corcoran and Emer O’Hanlon finished 2nd senior women Club team, just one point behind winners Athlone AC. Gerard Gavin, Alan Crowley and Eoin Clarke were 3rd Club in their master category, Eddie Newman, James Cribbin and Stephen Naughton were 1st Club in their category, and James Keegan, Kedagh Geoghegan and Kris Foster finished a very creditable 4th senior men Club team.
