May the Force be with you

12/5/2024

L-R: Nina Holmes, Gareth Phelan, Bo Chicoine, Cynthia Perucca, Kabir Sala, Marie-Claire Daly, Luz Estevan, Faeed Faeedi, Niamh Trihy, Darina Scully, Anna Hernick, Mairead Cashman, Tara Murphy, Neil Brown, Martin Joyce, Robbie Moore, Kevin Kenny and Sharon Woods

It has been another action-packed week, on the track, the roads and the mountains, with Crusaders appearing in many of the events on offer.

We start as usual with what happened on the track during this period. The IMC moved this weekend from Santry up to Belfast, the venue being the Mary Peters Track in Lisburn, the event hosted by the Belfast Milers Club, and we had some significant success at the meet.

In the men’s 400m Hugo Magee swapped his pacing duties from last weekend to run in and win the C race in a super time of 48.29. Another of our winners on the day was Claire Mooney who took on the field in the women’s 800m A grade, finishing in a time of 2:06.38 ahead of a quality field that also included ex-Crusader, now UCD, athlete Mary Horgan. The masters athlete placed 5th in 2:08.65. Then, in the B race of the same distance, Charlotte Myers crossed the line in 1st place in a time of 2:11.62. Annie Hughes ran in the C race where she placed 6th in 2:22.40, whilst Colm Parnell joined a large field in the men’s 1500 B standard, where he came home in 11th place in a time of 4:00.34.

On Sunday, several of our athletes took part in the 2nd round of the Dublin graded meets, which took place in the Morton Stadium in Santry. Irantzu Garate Muro ran in both rounds of the women’s grade B 200m, placing 5th in 26.42 in the 1st round (just the one heat) and 3rd in 26.71 in the 2nd heat of round 2. Meanwhile, in the men’s 200m grade A event Charlie Bastow placed 5th in 23.27 in heat 1 of the only round, whilst Leo Gormley ran in 2 rounds of the B graded race. Leo placed 3rd in 24.27 in heat 1 of round 1 and 3rd again in the only heat of round 2 in a time of 24.30.

The last events of the day were the men’s 1500m. In the men’s grade C race, with a substantial field, Henry Griffin finished in 11th spot in 4:29.67, followed by Joe McDermott who crossed the line in 16th place in 4:54.76. Then, in the two grade D races we had an athlete compete in each. In the 1st heat, young teenager Colmán O’Flynn came home in 14th place in 6:41.42, whilst Jan Manschot ran in heat 2, where he placed 6th in 4:53.96. Both fields were substantial and quite strong. For the second week running, there was a race that showed no times (but this week showed places). This was the men’s C graded 5,000m in which Brian Regan participated. It is likely, however, that Brian placed 3rd in a time around 17:36. If a more detailed set of results appears, then the report will be updated, as usual.

In the men’s discus, Conor Quinn placed 2nd with the 1.5kg discus, his 5th round throw of 37.48m being his longest of the day, whilst Jonathan Bell won his 2kg competition with a 1st round throw of 35.79m.

Action on the roads for our club members started in southwest Dublin on Thursday evening, in the Sandyford 5k, which involved one small loop and two larger ones with a sharp hill 3 times and up to the finish. Joining the 518 other runners in the race were Aoife Quigley and Charlotte Rufié. Aoife finished in 24th place overall and 2nd female finisher in 19:47, only 6 seconds behind the women’s race winner Malika Hammani. Charlotte also had a good race, placing 82nd overall and 16th woman across the line, in a time of 22:33.

We then come to Sunday. Down in Cork, near her soon-to-be new home, Ciara Lehane ran in the Bweeng Trailblazers 5k near Mallow. The race was pretty much an out-and-back, but not repeating the first kilometre which had been downhill and thus providing a slight downhill finish. Ciara placed 123rd and 37th in a time of 22:32 and in a field of 342.

The highlight of the road races during this period, however, has to be the annual running of the Sportsworld-hosted Terenure 5 miler. It is a super event and Sportsworld organise it well. On a relatively flat route that has not really changed in years, involving one large loop with a bit of a drag towards its end and one smaller loop within it to finish, we had at least 37 members of the club take part in a field of over 1,350 finishers. Thankfully, the race started an hour earlier than last year and so, although conditions were warm and uncomfortable with little wind, we were spared the hottest parts of the day. Nevertheless, several of us found the going tough regardless.

Our lead runner across the line was John Fahy who followed his exploits last week in the Limerick half with a 47th place in 29:46. John was followed by Rory Goldsmith (78th in 31:03) and then by Brian Horgan (111th in 32:02). Nina Holmes was our first female athlete to finish, placing 184th and 21st in 34:04, taking not only the trophy for 2nd placed F40 runner, but also leading the women’s O/40 team to 2nd place (in a competition of 15 clubs). The other members of the team were Orla O’Flynn (253rd, 39th and 3rd F55 in 35:41) and Joanne Carey (270th and 46th in 35:59).

Phelim Murray enjoyed an extremely strong finish to place 196th in 34:17, just ahead of James Cottle (204th in 34:30) who was pipped on the line for 1st place in his M65 age category by a runner who had no idea he was competing against James, and vice versa. Still, James was content to place 2nd, given that he nearly pulled out of the race as he ran, feeling dizzy and nauseous from gun to tape following a slight attack of vertigo over the past few days.

Next to cross the line was Ruadhán Mac Cormaic who placed 213th in 34:22 and Ruadhán was followed by Jeanie Watson (248th and 36th in 35:24). Behind Orla and Joanne came Robbie Moore (302nd in 36:40), followed by Kabir Sala (315th in 35:51), Mauro Fioro’Pla (319th in 36:44), Thomas O’Dwyer (361st in 37:39), Sharon Woods (375th, 73rd and 5th F55), Carmel Higgins (385th and 76th in 38:15), Lisa Branigan (393rd and 80th in 38:03) and Gareth Phelan, racing for the first time since a bout of plantar fasciitis (426th in 38:37). Neil Brown was next (448th in 38:54), followed by Noel Carr (516th in 39:43), Anna Brown (523rd overall in 40:11), Patrick Needham (576th in 40:24), Kevin Kenny (599th in 41:18) and Darina Scully (606th and 150th in 41:33).

Bo Chicoine was the next to cross the finish line (810th in 43:34) and he was followed by Luz Estevan (811th and 260th in 43:35), Martin Joyce (817th in 45:05), Carina Davidson (838th and 272nd in 45:07) who found the pacer she had intended to follow somewhat over-optimistic, Mairead Cashman (954th and 342nd in 47:27), Gabriela Segura Fonseca (960th and 347th in 46:26) and Anna Hernick (991st and 347th in 47:23).

The contingent was completed by Lorraine McMahon (1045th and 402nd in 48:46), Paul E. Kelly (1048th in 48:33), Marie-Claire Daly (1185th and 495th in 52:45), Faeed Faeedi (1193rd in 53:13), Cynthia Perucca (1236th and 534th in 54:36) and Niamh Trihy (1299th and 585th in 59:11), guided by Tara Murphy. Several of the Crusaders athletes on the day were running a 5 mile race for the first time.

In terms of mountain racing, we need to hear of the exploits this weekend of Donatas Jocius who represented Lithuania in the European Masters Off-Road Championships in Santana in Portugal. Donatas ran in 3 races conducted over 3 days from Friday to Sunday. In the first, a hilly challenge over 8.6k, Donatas placed 31st in a field of 113 and 5th M35 in a time of 58:42. The second, a “vertical” race over 5k, Donatas placed 20th in 48:48, and then on Sunday, he took the M35 title on a course measuring 32.5k which he completed in 3 hours and 33 minutes.

Closer to home, there were two IMRA-organised races in which clubmates featured this week. On Wednesday evening, in the Leinster Trail League, runners had to compete over 9k on easy terrain in Ardgillan near Skerries. The race involved the beach there with half the race being a descent and the other half, a climb (the total ascent being 190m). Ollie McGrath placed 17th in a field of 119 in a time of 42:25, followed by Berndt Heim (115th in 71:02). Then, on Saturday, Warren Swords took part in the All-Ireland Championship around Slieve Donard in Co. Down. The race of 69 runners involved a climb of 850m over 10k on difficult terrain. Warren placed 27th overall and 3rd M45 in 72:27.

Parkrun numbers generally seemed to be down this week. Nevertheless, we had some success as usual. Once again, we had a couple of first finishers. In Sligo, Karl Walsh led the field of 107 across the line in a time of 18:31, whilst, in Poolbeg, Ella Quinn placed 10th overall and first female finisher in a time of 19:46. Ella was followed closely by Ciara Regan in the field of 174, who placed 11th and 2nd in 19:50. Ahead of them came Stephen Hurley who took 3rd place in 19:13. There was quite a large contingent as usual in Poolbeg. Ciara was followed by Adrian Groarke (14th in 20:15), Ronan Walsh (21st in 20:53), John Lohan (41st in 23:00), Adam Kinch (46th in 23:20), Russell Murphy (63rd in 24:55), Franky Keane (67th in 25:23) alongside Kevin Kenny (68th in the same time), Sharon Woods (70th and 14th in 25:27), Tanja Narancic (72nd and 17th in 25:39), Kate Healy (78th and 19th in 26:29), Tara Murphy (79th and 20th in 26:34), Louise O’Riordan (95th and 30th in 28:45), Maureen McGinley (98th and 31st in 29:09), Evelyn Neary (113th and 42nd in 30:21), with Michael Fitzsimons a second behind (in 114th place), Anna Hernick (121st and 48th in 30:49), Siobhan Russell (138th and 57th in 33:04) and Mari Hansen (149th and 65th in 36:11).

Kate Murray placed 23rd and 3rd in the 77-strong field in Brickfields with a time of 25:09, whilst Toby Benham placed 7th in Tramore Valley, Cork, in a time of 19:30. The field there measured 176. Maria Kennedy ran in her native Kilkenny, where, in a field of 164, she placed 57th and 10th in 27:17, whilst, David Carter took on Shanganagh with its field of 212 runners, where he placed 8th in 20:03. Carina Davidson tailwalked in the same event. 449 runners took to the paths of Marlay Park where Enda Currid placed 12th in 19:37 and Oisin Corish took 19th spot in 20:34, whilst, in St. Anne’s, Eoghan Corrigan finished in 23rd place in 20:55, followed by Will Holton (50th in 22:16), Paul F. Kelly (149th in 25:57), Aoife Kelly (161st and 25th in 26:11) and Aoife Flynn (338th and 110th in 32:19). The field there measured 452.

Darina Scully pushed her child's buggy around River Valley Park in a time of 28:56 for 44th and 13th in a field of 103, whilst Andy Deuser joined 181 other runners in Fairview, where he placed 32nd in 22:57. In Cabinteely, with its field of 172, Máirín Shine celebrated her 300th parkrun by tailwalking there with daughter Lisa. Further up the results, Anna Shine placed 75th and 25th in 29:46, followed by Stephen Mulligan (92nd in 30:45), Mairead Cashman (97th and 38th in 30:52) and Fiona Shine (138th and 64th in 38:23).

Finally, Kevin Flynn joined 85 other participants in Porterstown where he placed 70th in 37:42, whilst, further afield, Orlaith de Burca ran in Toyen in Norway where, in a field of 184, she placed 147th and 54th in 33:01.

Sandyford 5k (520)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Robert Corbally 1 00:16:06
22 Malika Hammani 1 00:19:41
Crusaders AC runners
24 Aoife Quigley 00:19:47 (2)
82 Charlotte Rufié 00:22:33 (16)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/sandyford-5k-2024/
Sportsworld Terenure 5 mile (1357)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Peter Somba 1 00:24:40
11 Grace Lynch 1 00:27:16
Crusaders AC runners
47 John Fahy 00:29;46
78 Rory Goldsmith 00:31:03
111 Brian Horgan 00:32:02
184 Nina Holmes 00:34:04 (21)
196 Phelim Murray 00:34:17
204 James Cottle 00:34:30
213 Ruadhán MacCormaic 00:34:22
248 Jeanie Watson 00:35:24 (36)
253 Orla O’Flynn 00:35:41 (39)
270 Joanne Carey 00:35:59 (46)
302 Robbie Moore 00:36:40
315 Kabir Sala 00:35:51
319 Mauro Fiorio’Pla 00:36:44
361 Thomas O’Dwyer 00:37:39
375 Sharon Woods 00:37:47 (73)
385 Carmel Higgins 00:38:15 (76)
393 Lisa Branigan 00:38:03 (80)
426 Gareth Phelan 00:38:37
448 Neil Brown 00:38:54
516 Noel Carr 00:39:43
523 Anna Brown 00:40:11 (XX)
576 Patrick Needham 00:40:24
599 Kevin Kenny 00:41:18
606 Darina Scully 00:41:33 (150)
810 Bo Chicoine 00:43:34
811 Luz Estevan 00:43:35 (260)
817 Martin Joyce 00:45:05
838 Carina Davidson 00:45:07 (272)
954 Mairead Cashman 00:47:27 (342)
960 Gabriela Segura Fonseca 00:46:26 (347)
991 Anna Hernick 00:47:23 (367)
1045 Lorraine McMahon 00:48:46 (402)
1048 Paul E. Kelly 00:48:33
1185 Marie-Claire Daly 00:52:45 (495)
1193 Faeed Faeedi 00:53:13
1236 Cynthia Perucca 00:54:36 (534)
1299 Niamh Trihy 00:59:11 (585)
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/sportsworld_terenure_5_mile_2024/5019/results
Bweeng Trailblazers 5k (342)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Barry Twohig 1 00:15:21
14 Hannah Steeds 1 00:16:35
Crusaders AC runner
123 Ciara Lehane 00:22:32 (37)
Full results here: https://myrunresults.com/events/bweeng_trail_blazers_5k_2024/5059/results
IMRA Ardgillan 9k (119)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daniel O’Brien 1 00:35:59
16 Sinead Farrell 1 00:42:00
Crusaders AC runners
17 Ollie McGrath 00:42:25
115 Berndt Heim 01:11:02
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2489/
IMRA Slieve Donard 10k (69)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Zak Hanna 1 00:51:29
10 Esther Dickson 1 01:07:07
Crusaders AC runner
27 Warren Swords 01:12:27
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2486/
Kilkenny Parkrun (164)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Paul Burke 1 00:19:28
7 Siobhan Burke 1 00:21:44
Crusaders AC runner
57 Maria Kennedy 00:27:17 (10)
Shanganagh Parkrun (212)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Risteard Mac Eoin 1 00:18:05
38 Karen Graham 1 00:23:48
Crusaders AC runners
8 David Carter 00:20:03
212 Carina Davidson 00:59:06
Fairview Parkrun (182)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Diarmuid Kilroy 1 00:19:07
53 Nicola Rafferty 1 00:24:59
Crusaders AC runner
32 Andy Deuser 00:22:57
Poolbeg Parkrun (174)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Rory O’Kennedy 1 00:17:58
10 Ella Quinn 1 00:19:46
Crusaders AC runners
3 Stephen Hurley 00:19:13
10 Ella Quinn 00:19:46
11 Ciara Regan 00:19:50 (2)
14 Adrian Groarke 00:20:15
21 Ronan Walsh 00:20:53
41 John Lohan 00:23:00
46 Adam Kinch 00:23:20
63 Russell Murphy 00:24:55
67 Franky Keane 00:25:33
67 Kevin Kenny 00:24:47
70 Sharon Woods 00:25:27 (14)
72 Tanja Narancic 00:25:39 (17)
78 Kate Healy 00:26:29 (19)
79 Tara Murphy 00:26:34 (20)
95 Louise O’Riordan 00:28:45 (30)
98 Maureen McGinley 00:29:09 (31)
113 Evelyn Neary 00:30:21 (42)
114 Michael Fitzsimons 00:30:22
121 Anna Hernick 00:30:49 (48)
138 Siobhan Russell 00:33:04 (57)
149 Mari Hansen 00:36:11 (65)
Marlay Parkrun (449)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Aidan O’Connor 1 00:17:29
22 Roisin Mooney 1 00:20:46
Crusaders AC runners
12 Enda Currid 00:19:37
19 Oisin Corish 00:20:34
Sligo Parkrun (107)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Karl Walsh 1 00:18:31
7 Aoife Molloy 1 00:21:39
Crusaders AC runner
2 Karl Walsh 00:18:05
Malahide Parkrun (296)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall Baragwanath 1 00:17:32
7 Annette Kealy 1 00:18:39
Crusaders AC runner
3 Paul Cowhie 00:17:47
Porterstown Parkrun (86)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 Tadgh Sheehan 1 00:20:32
13 Dorothy Lennon 1 00:24:18
Crusaders AC runner
70 Kevin Flynn 00:37:42
River Valley Parkrun (103)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Viktoras Kuzminas 1 00:18:13
7 Cecile Ollagnier 1 00:22:44
Crusaders AC runner
44 Darina Scully 00:28:56 (13)
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (176)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Fearghal Desmond 1 00:17:06
9 Siobhan Hoare 1 00:19:37
Crusaders AC runner
7 Toby Benham 00:19:30
Cabinteely Parkrun (172)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Miguel Flores 1 00:17:48
12 Jennelyn Villocino 1 00:23:31
Crusaders AC runners
75 Anna Shine 00:29:46 (25)
92 Stephen Mulligan 00:30:45
97 Mairead Cashman 00:30:52 (38)
138 Fiona Shine 00:38:23 (64)
164 Máirín Shine 00:52:30 (82)
165 Lisa Shine 00:52:33 (83)
Brickfields Parkrun (77)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Máirtín Ó Goibín 1 00:18:47
18 Eimear O’Keeffe 1 00:24:44
Crusaders AC runner
23 Kate Murray 00:25:09 (3)
St. Anne’s Parkrun (452)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jonny Forsyth 1 00:16:48
6 Siobhan Eviston 1 00:18:28
Crusaders AC runners
23 Eoghan Corrigan 00:20:55
50 Will Holton 00:22:16
149 Paul F. Kelly 00:25:57
161 Aoife Kelly 00:26:11 (25)
338 Aoife Flynn 00:32:19 (110)

Back row L-R: Gareth Phelan, Bo Chicoine, Kabir Sala, Faeed Faeedi, Luz Estevan, Niamh Trihy, Anna Hernick and Neil Brown. Middle row L-R: James Cottle, Cynthia Perucca, Marie-Claire Daly, Paul E. Kelly, Nina Holmes, Darina Scully, Anna Hernick and Martin Joyce. Front row L-R: Sharon Woods, Carmel Higgins, Joanne Carey, Mairead Cashman, Robbie Moore and Kevin Kenny