Galway athletes rise to the occasion in gruelling distance running events

TWO long distance Galway athletes produced outstanding performances on the roads of Europe over the weekend.

Gary Thornton of Galway City Harriers turned in an excellent effort in the Rotterdam Marathon last Sunday. He clocked a time of 2hrs, 18 minutes and 21 seconds, just off the qualifying time for the World Championships, but is determined to get the standard which is well within his capabilities. The city man will no doubt target another marathon later this year.

A second Galway athlete to produce a top class weekend effort was Athenry AC’s Ruthann Sheahan who finished a terrific 11th at the IAU 24Hour World Championships held in Turin, Italy.

Competing on a 2km loop, Sheehan covered 112 laps before having to bow out with 44 minutes left on the clock, coming agonisingly close to her own national record of 229km.

Sheehan had kept a steady pace throughout the day to pick off those in front of her and did best of the Irish contingent of five who travelled over for the race with Susan McCartney following not too far behind, and was ahead of all the male team of Eoin Keith, John O’ Regan and Eddie Gallen. As this race also doubled up as the European Championships, Sheehan was also placed 7th in Europe.

Meanwhile, Galway City Harriers athletes were out in force at the National 10km, held in conjunction with the Great Ireland Run, in the Phoenix Park Saturday last. A difficult course and swirling winds made it a challenging day for all athletes.

It was to prove a successful day for the strong GCH senior women’s squad who won the National silver team medal, a first such haul in many years for the city club. They were led home by the strong running Regina Casey, who was placed ninth overall in 38.14.

Casey was ably supported by newcomer Aubree Piepmeier who ran 39.48, and Siobhan Egan, 40.36. The GCH Over 50 ladies team also won a silver medal, with Margaret Sheridan, Barbara Bergin and Majella Ni Chriocain the scoring three.

In the men’s event, GCH veterans swept the boards, with Martin Kearney taking National Over 60 gold running 38.48, and Martin McEvilly taking the Over 65 title. These two allied to John Devlin won the national silver in the Over 50 men’s team category.

Brian Bruton was first home on the day for the club after a long injury lay off in a time of 36.54, some way off his best, with Culan O Meara next in 37.56. Judith Roche of Loughrea AC captured silver in the Ladies Over 60 category to add to her growing haul of national medals.

Over 2000 people took to the scenic surrounds of Connemara Sunday last for the 14th edition of the hugely popular event.  Sean Brosnan won the gruelling 39.3 mile Ultra Marathon in an excellent 4hrs 22mins, while Tia Jones took the ladies title in 5hrs 36 mins.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.