Claire Gibbons-McCarthy & Mark Hanrahan travelled to Spain over the weekend to compete in the Barcelona Half Marathon, known locally as Mitja Marató de Barcelona.
Claire’s return to fitness continues at pace as she ran a new PB of 1:15:18 and was the 1st female home in the DF category (’63-’77) category, placed 142nd in a field of 1385 finishers. This was a good result for Claire as she prepares for a full marathon later in the spring.
Mark had a strong race to finish 20th overall in a time of 1:06:13.
Also on the roads this weekend, Lizzie Lee was in action at the Enniscorthy 10K and was 5th athlete across the line, setting a new 10K PB with a phenomenal 33:00.
On what a busy weekend for the senior athletes, the AAI Inter-Coounty Cross Country Championships took place in Tuam on Sunday. Donal Coakley was the only Leevale competititor and he had a good run, finishing 17th in the senior men’s race.
Also on Sunday, Chris Mintern and Carol Finn finished 2nd in the Kilworth 5K and Nollaigh O’Neill was 3rd.
Earlier in the weekend the IUAA Indoors took place in Athlone. Michelle Finn and Andrea Bickerdike finished 1-2 in the 800m and Ben Thistlewood took bronze in the 3K.