Mick Clohisey and Fionnuala Ross claim national marathon titles

Olympian Mick Clohisey of Raheny Shamrock AC and Fionnuala Ross of Armagh AC have claimed the 2021 national marathon titles in Belfast.

Clohisey, who represented Ireland at Rio in 2016, had built up a clear advantage at halfway and didn’t relinquish the lead, going on to finish in a time of 2:20.42 to reclaim the championship title he had won in 2018.

Kyle Doherty (City of Derry) claimed silver, crossing in 2.22.48 while Colin Heron takes bronze with a 2.27.25.

Armagh runner Fionnuala Ross continued her brilliant form, backing up her Antrim Coast performance to take the women’s race and national honours in a time of 2:43.43. Ross was a minute clear of Ciara Hickey (Brothers Pearse) who took second in 2:44:40 while Gladys Ganiel (North Belfast Harriers) finished third in 2:45:03.

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Over 5,700 people were set to take to the start line in Stormont on Sunday morning, marking the first mass participation event on the island of Ireland since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The race was also assigned national championship status following the decision to cancel the Dublin City Marathon, which had been scheduled for October 24th, for a second year.

Elsewhere Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Kalkidan Gezahegne won The Giants Geneva 10km on Sunday (3) in 29:38*, breaking the world record by five seconds.

The 30-year-old from Bahrain, contesting just the fourth road race of her career, went out fast. By the time she reached the halfway point in 14:46, she had a five-second lead over Kenyan duo Celliphine Chespol and Agnes Tirop, who last month set a women-only world record of 30:01 for the 10km distance.

Ethiopia’s Dawit Seyaum also passed through halfway inside 15 minutes, but she soon started to drop back. The challenge from Chespol and Tirop also gradually faded, leaving Gezahegne with a significant lead.

Gezahegne covered the second half in 14:51, crossing the finish line in 29:38 to take five seconds off Joyciline Jepkosgei’s world record set in Prague in 2017. Tirop finished second in 30:20, eight seconds ahead of steeplechase specialist Chespol. Seyaum was further back in fourth, clocking 31:25.

Road relays

In the men’s race, world half marathon record-holder Kibiwott Kandie had fellow Kenyans Felix Kipkoech and Boniface Kibiwott for company as he passed through halfway in 13:28. The pace increased in the second half, which was enough to break Kibiwott, leaving Kandie and Kipkoech to duel for the top spot.

Kandie, always a strong finisher, came through to take the victory in 26:51, finishing six seconds ahead of Kipkoech. Kibiwott held on for third in 27:13. In fourth, Pietro Riva set an Italian record of 28:06.

Meanwhile, Raheny Shamrock dominated the road relays on home turf as they landed both men’s and women’s senior titles.

The Raheny women’s team of Siobhán Eviston, Niamh Kearney and Lucy Barret proved far too strong, posting 21:32 for their four mile relay.

Eviston ran a 5:09 first lap (1 mile) followed by Kearney posting 10:42 (2 mile). This left Barrett to seal victory on the final mile.

While Dublin City Harriers produced Nadia Power on the final leg, Raheny had too large a lead and won gold allowing for Barrrett to post 5:41 for her final mile. Power posted 5:13 for her lap, propelling DCH to silver ahead of Rathfarnham.

The men’s race was just as clean cut as the Raheny team made it five in a row.

Cillian Kirwan posted 9:16 and opened a lead on the field after the opening two mile lap. Gavin Eccles 4:33 mile left Raheny in total control and the 40 second gap was never clawed back as Kieran Kelly (three miles) and Daniel Stone (two miles) sealed victory in a combined 28:30.

Rathfarnham took silver in 28:57 and Clonliffe took bronze in 29:17.

A smaller field than normal took part with just 11 senior men’s teams making the starting line. Athletics Ireland plan to restore the event to April in 2022.

2021 National Marathon Championship Result:

Men

1. Mick Clohisey Raheny Shamrock AC 2.20.42

2. Kyle Doherty City of Derry AC 2.22.48

3. Colin Heron Keep Er Lit Running 2.27.25

Women

1. Fionnuala Ross Armagh AC 2.43.43

2. Ciara Hickey Brothers Pearse AC 2.44.40

3. Gladys Ganiel North Belfast Harriers 2.45.03