Martin Fagan of Mullingar Harriers yesterday led home a mammoth entry of over 11,000 runners to win the SPAR Great Ireland Run -the annual 10 kilometers road race in the Dublin’s Phoenix Park which this year incorporated the 10k Championships of Ireland.This was the first Irish victory in the men’s race at this hugely popular event and Fagan coasted to a comfortable victory in 29 minutes 15 seconds- eighteen seconds clear a battling Gary Thornton of Galway City Harriers who was race leader for the for half of the event. Andrew Ledwith of Fr Murphy’s A.C placed third in 29.45 with Joe Sweeney of DSD holding down forth position in 29.51 ahead of Alan O’Shea of Bantry, 30.31 and Paddy Hamilton, (Annadale),30.41.
“I am delighted to have finally won this event,” Martin Fagan said. “It took me three days of traveling from my training base in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, to get to Dublin and I felt a bit tired early on. However, when I took the lead around half way I picked it up a bit and I am pretty satisfied with my run.”
Fagan will now stay in Ireland for a number of weeks and he is hoping to race in the Great Einburgh Run in a fortnight’s time as well as a number of other high profile British events.The Mullingar man also has plans to compete in the European Track & Field Championships in Barcelona this Summer.
Gary Thornton was also well pleased with his second place finish which also earned him the silver medal in the national championship. “I gave it a good effort at the front early on and I am happy that I held on well for second place,” Thornton said.
Third place finisher, Andrew Ledwith, had also made a long journey from his training base in Oregon to make it to the start line in Dublin. “I experienced a bad stitch during the race and that slowed me a bit,” Ledwith said.
Scotland’s Freye Murray was a clear winner of the women’s race in 32.28. Murray, who finished 9th in the women’s race in the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Santry last December, broke clear of Britain’s Jo Pavey after half-way and strode confidently to victory. Benita Willis of Australia placed third in 34.24.
National Cross Country Champion Linda Byrne of Dundrum South Dublin A.C led the Irish challenge in fourth place in 34.50. The DSD runner took the national title ahead of Claire McCarthy (St Fionbarr’s A.C), 35.20 and Barbara Sanchez , (Raheny Shamrock A.C), 35.41.
“I am delighted to have won the national road title for 10km, “Linda Byrne said. I have been enjoying road racing over the past several months and this is a nice title to add to the cross country one that I won last month.”
The SPAR Junior Great Ireland Run was also well supported with David Harper taking the boy’s event in 9:16 from Eoin Taggart and Samuel Allen. The girl’s race was won by Ciara Hewson in 10:16 from Alanna lally, 10:36 and Lorraine Daly, 10:50.
The Ronnie Delany Trophy for the county to have the most runners finish under 45 minutes was won by Laois who narrowly shaded it over Mayo.
The SPAR Great Ireland Run was again splendidly organised and runners, joggers and walkers continued to cross the finish line up two hours after the starter’s gun had sounded. The event was blessed with good weather and there was a real party atmosphere in the Phoenix Park. This was the first year for SPAR Ireland to sponsor this event which looks set for further growth in the years ahead.
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