2011 National 10k.. the story so far ..

Well, like you we have waited two days for AAI to publish the results of the National 10k. We were kept waiting in the hot sun on Sunday. The masses – elite men, club runners and everybody else were due to run at 1.10 but had to wait until 1.30. The elite women and club runners were lucky to have a relatively easier start as their numbers were comparatively small.

Now we are kept in the dark. It is not good enough. AAI said on Monday morning the results would be up on Tuesday. Now it is Wednesday. The Spar Great Ireland Run website had the results available on Sunday evening. They even had AAI Women, AAI Men and Club options, so what is the problem for AAI? And sadly this is not the first time. Is this the price we have to pay for incorporating the National 10k into a UK organised event? However, while we wait here are some of the things we do know:

The sun shone. Over eight thousand assembled. Many sought shade under Phoenix Park trees still without their summer foliage. Met Eireann recorded a max of 20.3. It felt hotter in the Park. Some Like it Hot. Consequently, finishing times were down for most athletes.

The 2011 AAI National 10k championships race took place in Dublin on Sunday. It was incorporated in the Spar Great Ireland Run. Like many other clubs most of Mayo AC’s runners did not get their race packs in the post in advance, and were grateful that John Byrne arrived early to sort out the problem at emergency desks.

Mayo AC had twenty two athletes on the start lines. Despite the energy sapping heat, and a tough uphill second half, there were some magnificent performances. As stated, AAI have not yet confirmed individual or team results, but Mayo women can look forward to success in both individual and team sections, with Colette Tuohy, Angela O’Connor in individual categories and the women’s Senior, o40 and o50 teams being in with a great chance of
medals. The leading four women finishers Catherine Conway, Mary Gleeson, Colette Tuohy and Angela O’Connor ran very strong races in the tough conditions. TJ McHugh led the senior men home in a great time and their team and the o50s too have an
outside chance of medals.

You can watch the race on RTEplayer :   http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1095974

Since AAI individual and team results are not yet to hand – Mayo AC times below are taken from race organiser’s Spar results pages:

Senior men:
TJ McHugh 33.53. Timmy Glavey 35.03. Antony Devaney 35.24, Kevin
Mellett 36.42, Andrew Lynskey 37.23, Brendan Hession 40.47.

Senior women:
Catherine Conway 37.22, Mary Gleeson 37.57, Colette Tuohy 39.23, Sarah
Syron 43.32. Paula Prendergast 46.13, ,

Men over 40: Christy O’ Malley 46.49

Men over 50: Ronnie Naylor 39.55, Tom Hunt 41.43, Owen Mongan 44.30,
Michael McGrath 49.03, John Timothy 52.20

Women over 40: Angela O’Connor 41.36, Chris Gallagher 44.23, Ann Murray 45.18

Women over 50: Mary Naylor 50.44, Una McGrath 53.51, Mary Murphy 56.38

Meanwhile, back in the cooler hills and valleys of Galway, Mayo AC’s Brendan Gill put in a brilliant performance to finish second in the Connemara Marathon in 2.47. He said afterwards “I went off too fast and paid the price in the last six miles – a lot more to learn”. However Brendan can be very proud of his achievement and it will serve as a great  inspiration for his Westport based club mates Paddy O’Toole and Gerry Galvin when they tackle the London Marathon next Sunday. Also in Connemara Marathon, Ann Fahey recorded a respectable
3.56.

Congratulations to Sean Dooner (South West Vets AC) who celebrated his 80th birthday last week and ran the National 10k in 76.07. Sean has organised races at Tooreen over the past two years and has another one lined up for this summer.