JOHN WALSHE
Athletics
AFTER finishing second in the Cloyne 5km the night before, Sean McGrath had an easier victory over the same distance at Shanagarry where a time over two minutes slower was sufficient for the win.
Established back in 1987 and held in conjunction with various festivals since, this year’s race was of the low-key variety as no festival is being staged in the east Cork village this summer. A similar number (46) to that inaugural event of 25 years ago took part on a beautiful evening.
McGrath and his East Cork clubmate Conor Tierney were content to run together until the closing stages when McGrath edged ahead of for an eight-second victory in a time of 17:30. Another member of the club, Eric Meade, took third spot in 17:47.
Jessica Vonhatten of Leevale had missed most of the past year due to injury and was having only her second local race of the summer.
After finishing third three weeks ago in Banteer, she continued her comeback to win the women’s race in 21:12. The Tennessee native now targets the Blackwater Sprint Triathlon at Fermoy in a couple of weeks.
Breda Cahill from nearby Cloyne, a member of the Midleton club, finished second in 22:06 with another local, Rose Herlihy, taking third spot in 23:51.
* The road racing action continues apace tonight when Galtee Runners stage the third GR8KM race at Mitchelstown. This gets underway at 7.30pm with entries (€10) taken at St Fanahan’s College in the town. On Sunday evening the John Hartnett 10km takes place in Ballyhooly, starting at 7pm and again with an entry fee of €10.
Results
1 S McGrath (East Cork) 17:30; 2 C Tierney (East Cork) 17:38; 3 E Meade (East Cork, M45) 17:47; 4 F Curtin (Youghal) 17:51; 5 N Curtin (Youghal, M45) 18:09; 6 D O’Dwyer (East Cork, M40) 18:37.
M40: 2 N Ramsell (Midleton) 22:21; 3 P Mullane (Midleton) 29:00.
M45: 3 D McCarthy (East Cork) 19:24.
M50: 1 N Quinn (unatt) 28:08.
M55: 1 T Cody (Midleton) 18:55; 2 T O’Neill (unatt) 22:24; 3 K Constant (unatt) 22:31.
Women: 1 J Vonhatten (Leevale) 21:12; 2 B Cahill (Midleton, F40) 22:06; 3 R Herlihy (Midleton) 23:51; 4 A-M Perry (Midleton, F40) 23:59; 5 M Twohig (Midleton, F45) 25:08; 6 P Lane (Youghal) 25:39.
F35: 1 M Kingston (Youghal) 26:01.
F40: 3 C Roche (unatt) 32:05.
F50: 1 R Gunn (unatt) 25:45; 2 M Barry (Midleton) 25:57; 3 K Dunne (unatt) 29:14.
