Moldovan marathon man proves his mettle

HOME AND AWAY SERGIU CIOBANU (athlete): Ian O'Riordantalks to the Tipperary-based runner whose huge enthusiasm for the sport may result in him representing his adopted country

THE MOMENT Sergiu Ciobanu crossed the finishing line of Monday’s Dublin Marathon was definitely one of mixed emotions – and not just the usual mix of agony and ecstasy that comes with completing a 26.2-mile run. Wearing the colours of Clonliffe Harriers, Ciobanu had claimed the national marathon title as the first home-based runner to finish, even though he’s living some distance away from his original home.

Ciobanu was born and raised in the small town of Marculesti in Moldova, a place with few if any connections with Ireland. A landlocked country in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east and south, Moldova doesn’t have much of an athletics tradition either. But since he moved to Ireland four years ago, Ciobanu has been fast developing a reputation as one of leading distance running talents in this country.

Now 26, he came to Ireland mainly in search of work, but also with the ambition of keeping his running career alive.

Having secured a work permit, he joined Clonliffe Harriers in Dublin as a way of tapping into the Irish running scene, and then found work at the AIBP beef factory in Cahir, Tipperary, where he now lives and trains. He always reckoned the marathon was potentially his best event, and earlier this year decided to make Dublin his main aim for 2009.

By way of preparation, he ran the Belfast marathon in May, where he finished third, and then the Longford marathon in August, which he won.

Clearly, Ciobanu came to Dublin in good shape, although not without some anxiety.

“I’d been looking towards Dublin since the spring,” he explains with his sweet command of English and remarkable friendliness. “I also did quite well on the track this summer, and used some road races as well to help me prepare.

“Then I picked up a small hip injury two weeks ago, after my last long run. I wasn’t sure if I’d still be able to start Dublin. But I just took it easy since then. I was a little worried about it in the first half of the race, and took it easy, but actually I felt good for the second half, and really enjoyed it. This has definitely been my best performance.

“I really enjoyed it. The crowds supported me a lot. It’s a wonderful race. And I’m just very proud to win a title here in Ireland.”

As it turned out, Ciobanu was indeed able to enjoy the last miles of Dublin, arriving home in a personal best of 2:22.06, which was good enough for 15th place overall, and some four minutes clear of the next best-placed home runner, Donegal’s Pauric McKinney, who ended up second in 2:26.21.

Also, it wasn’t actually the first national title for Ciobanu, as in 2007 he won the national half-marathon title, staged in Donegal. He’d also finished second in the 10,000 metres at the National Track and Field Championships in Santry in August.

He clearly has huge enthusiasm for the sport, plus the necessary determination, and the only question now is where his international prospects lie – with Moldova, or Ireland?

“I would be happy to compete for Ireland, at some stage. But it’s wonderful to represent your own country as well. It depends I suppose on how things change in the future. The first thing is to get a qualification time, even for, say, a European championship. Actually I’m still thinking about the London Olympics in 2012. I think I still have a chance of qualifying, if I’m not too old.

“I haven’t applied for citizenship yet, but I am considering it. Again it depends on how things work out, and whether I run for Ireland, or Moldova. But I’ve been training in Ireland for the past four years, since I’ve come here, and I’d be happy to run for Ireland. I’ve got some good friends here, some good clubmates, and I really enjoy joining them for training sessions.”

Initially coached by Peter McDermott in Clonliffe, he would come to Dublin most weekends to join in the club sessions. But because of the distance to Dublin, he now trains mostly alone in the hills and woods surrounding Cahir. Like most runners, there is no sacrifice when you’re doing what you enjoy, and since taking up running as teenager, Ciobanu has always seen it that way.

“I started running when I was 18. I had some friends who were doing very well in running, and I joined up with them. I actually ran the European Cross Country for Moldova five years ago. Now, I still only train once a day, no more than 75 to 80 miles a week. I know that’s a little less usual for the marathon. I’m looking to do more.”

Living away from his original home, inevitably, is not always easy. He had also been married in Moldova, but, after getting divorced, looked to new horizons.

“I do have some friends from Moldova also living here, and some relatives. There are some other Europeans living around Waterford also. We are good friends. But I do like living here, especially as the weather allows you to train all year round.

“And I’ve been back to Moldova a few times, for a holiday. My parents and two sisters are living there, but it’s wonderful to tell them I was Irish marathon champion.”

Given the ease with which he won that first national marathon title on Monday, his talents could only be a welcome addition to Irish athletics.