Newry City Marathon a runaway success
Little Jessie Maginn enjoyed watching the marathon.
Wet and breezy conditions greeted hundreds of runners for the fifth installment of the Newry Marathon and half marathon on Sunday morning. Young, old, fast and slow took to the streets – many unified in their goal to raise money for their chosen charities.
Despite the weather conditions, the wind and the rain did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the hundreds of runners as well as the large crowd that turned out to cheer them on.
There were new records set in the half marathon. Dunleer AC runner Martin Quinn was first man home in 1:09:41. Caitriona Jennings, a member of the Irish 2012 Olympic Marathon Team, romped home in the women’s race in a time of 1:15:29.
There were a whole host of personal bests for locals in the half marathon. Colm Hughes registered a fantastic time of 1:20:52, Ballyholland’s Paddy Havern crossed the finish line in1:23:30, which bodes well for his attempt to get under three hours in the Dublin Marathon in October, St.Pats AC runner Neil Heaney clocked an impressive 1:24:48 and Kate Mulholland was delighted to break the two hour barrier with a time of 1:55:08.
Joanne ran the last 100 yards of the half marathon with her two children.
Newry City Runner’s Decky McGrath took two minutes off his personal best, coming home in a time of 1:45:06. Decky said “It was a great event and very well organised. The running conditions were perfect. I got a new personal best and so did my mates so we will all celebrate tonight with a few cold ones!”
Running in her first half marathon, Joanne Clarke was greeted by smiling faces 100 yards from the finish line. Her two girls, Anna, 8 and Ellen, 5, ran the remainder of the race with their mum. Joanne said “It was my first half marathon and I’m chuffed with my time of 1:54:58. I’ll definitely celebrate tonight!”
Richard Turkington, the winner of the 2012 Newry Marathon.
In the full marathon event, last year’s half marathon runner up Richard Turkington was first home in the men’s race with a time of 2:38:34, just ahead of 2009 and 2010 marathon winner Don Travers who came in at 2:39:10. These two were almost nine minutes clear of third placed Chris Denton. Niamh Crowe won the women’s race in 3:21:54.
There were several locals who broke the three hour barrier. Cathal McGreevy ran his first ever sub three hour marathon in 2:57:40, which gave him eighth place overall. Marty Gorman finished seconds behind Cathal and he will be delighted to have another sub three under his belt . In his maiden marathon, St. Paul’s school teacher Stephen Quinn also clocked under the three hour mark, with a super 2:59:07.
Dromore’s Jim Corbett was the only entry in the wheelchair category but he certainly didn’t disappoint , crossing the finish line in 2:31:33.
Where you in the half marathon or full marathon? If so, have a look through our snaps and see if you’re there! [nggallery id=21]
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