A huge crowd of over 950 athletes took part in last night’s BHAA/John Buckley Sports 5K which was held over the usual Marina\Centre Park Road circuit. Many of the Leevale distance gang took part, some using the fast, flat race as a warm up for Monday’s Cork City Marathon.
The men’s race was won by Leevale’s Mark Hanrahan in 14:58. The women’s title went to Laura Crowe, who covered the 5K distance in a course record of 16:16, which is a phenomenally fast time. The An Riocht athlete often trains with Donie Walsh’s group on the track. Taking 2nd in the ladies’ race was Claire McCarthy, who is in great form at the moment. Her time of 16:35 was also inside the old course record.
Also featuring prominently on the night for Leevale were Chris Mintern (4th in 15:34), Karl Walsh, who is home from the US (7th in 15:51), Colm Moore and Rob Patterson (13th, 14th), as well as Sinéad O’Connor, who was 3rd in the women’s race.
Meanwhile, last Friday, Nollaig O’Neill had a great win in Rás na Rinne, that was hosted by West Waterford AC in Ring, near Dungarvan. The approx 5.4-mile circuit was over a mixture of road and beach, and she took the title in 37:50, nearly 3 minutes ahead of her nearest rival.