Road
The road season progressed nicely in recent weeks as our athletes competed at the Aisling Murphy 4 Mile held in
Tullamore and the Bob Heffernan & Mary Hanley 5k held in Enfield. Both events were part of the ongoing Peugeot
Race Series. Pierre Murchan was first across the line at the Aisling Murphy 4 Mile breaking the previous course
record by over 50 seconds with a time of 18.31. Pierre was followed closely home by Liam Naughton (20.40) and Or
Órán O’Hare (20.43). Lauren Tinkler placed 2nd in the women’s race (21.40) with Sinead Cronin (24.46) and Aislinn
Moorehouse (25.00) making up the remainder of the team. At the Bob Heffernan & Mary Hanley 5k, Pierre trotted to
his 4th successive victory in the Peugeot Race Series, leading the Men’s team to 2nd behind DSD. Making up the
Men’s team were Oisín McKinley (15.33), Órán O’Hare (15.34) and Christopher McGloughlin (16.55). We had an
equally successful Women’s team who also placed 2nd with Lauren Tinkler the first DCH woman across the line in a
time of 16.32. Lauren was followed in by Edel Monaghan (17.01), Clíona Murphy (17.04), Claire Rafter (17.54), Clare
O’Connor (19.48) and Edel McNamara who placed 3rd in the Over-50’s category (20.09). A huge deal of praise is
deserved to the organisers of both events for fantastic races! These performances place the club sitting comfortably
in 2nd position after 4 rounds of the Race Series.
In addition to the Race Series a number of our athletes competed in the National 5k Championships which were held
in the Phoenix Park. Orla Duffy led the club home placing 6th overall in the women’s race (16.59), followed home by
Aoife Donaghy (21.08), Lorna Walsh (21.22) and Abbey Corr (23.06). On the men’s side we had Ivan Rigal (17.18)
and Conor Stone (19.10) making their debuts in the DCH singlet. Meanwhile, Lauren Tinkler placed 6th in a highly
competitive field at the Women’s Mini Marathon while Grace Culhane placed in the top 50 with a time of 41.31. Órán
O’Hare continued his return from recent illness placing 4th in the Fury 5km in Buncran (15.31) while Daire Finn made
a rare appearance on the road to take the win at the Coralstown 5km (15.18). Faye Dervan also got back to winning
way as she was the first lady home at the Corkagh Park 5 Mile.
Mountain Running
At the Wicklow Way Relay Mark Gilligan, Aoife Corr, Daire Finn, Ellen Byrne and Annraoi Campbell were all
members of the “Ain’t No Way Relay” team which placed 9th overall, an improvement of 12 places over the previous
year. Daire Finn has also become a regular on the podium of the IMRA League in recent weeks.
Track
A number of the club’s athletes competed at the Dublin and Belfast Irish Milers Clubs meets. Philip Marron was
paced to a PB by our own Pierre Murchan over 1500m where he clocked a time of 3.45. Meanwhile Kieron Sexton
raced 3.57 in the same race. At the Belfast meet, Pierre Murchan raced to a PB in over 3000m to place 3rd (8.03).
Philip Marron was part of a high quality and tactical 1500m and showed his class finishing in 3.45. Edel Monaghan
put in a tenacious performance in the women’s 3000m finishing in a time of 9.40 while Orla Duffy set a big PB of 9.45
in the same race. Nadia power was back in action after a number of injuries opening her season with a time of 2.09
over 800m Nadia would go on to lower her season’s best by a second to run 2.08 at the IFAM Outdoor meet held in
Brussels. At the same event, Pierre set a PB of 13.45 over 5000m. At the Manchester BMC Philip placed 5th in the
1500m (3.45.52). Kieran Sexton also set a season’s best of 3.55 in his 1500m heat. Meanwhile Edel Monaghan placed 4th in her heat with 4.32.75 with Aoife Carr running 4.44.49 in the same race! Clíona Murphy also competed at
the famed High Gate Night of 10K PB’s in London, finishing in a time of 35.50. Over in U.S. both Ailish and Fiona
Hawkins trotted to a comfortable 1, 2 finish over 1500m at the So Cal Jim Bush championships.
The highlight achievement for the club in recent weeks has no doubt been Jodie McCann’s selection for the
European Track & Field Championships. Jodie had a stellar performance setting a personal best of 15.29 to finish
17th in her first major championship final. We wish Jodie the best of luck with the remainder of the season!
Dublin City Harriers 