Second place finish for Una at Waterford Half + Clonakilty Results

Submitted by Tom Hunt

Well done to Una McGrath who took the long road on Saturday to run Waterford AC’s Half Marathon. The out and back course will be familiar to many who ran there in September in the National Championships. Gary
O’Hanlon (Clonliffe Harriers) was first in 67.41 and Gladys Ganiel (North Belfast Harriers) first woman in 77.22. Una finished in 1.49.20 (PB by over 3 mins) and was second in F50 behind Josie Ui Chuirrin (West Waterford AC) who completed the course in 1:41:39. Mayo’s Derval Devanney finished 8th woman in 1.29.42

Una has had a great year, achieving personal best times over many distances from 5k upwards. Together with the experienced Mary Naylor and ‘newcomer’  Mary Murphy (F55 bronze medal winner in National Marathon) they will be a formidable F50 team in 2012.

Also at Waterford, there was another notable performance by Michael O’Connell (Sligo AC) running in his native county. He has been on the recovery trail over the last eighteen months and finished 4th M45 in 1.24.43. Michael is also an enthusiastic photographer and a regular contributor to mayoac.com  – most recently at the finish of the recent
Dublin Marathon.

Clonakilty Marathon: Noel Gibbons finished 10th overall and 2nd M40 in 3.02.07; Colette Sweeney was 6th woman overall and 1st F40 in 3.31.03. The Race was won by ultra runner Keith Whyte in 2.44.18