The Athletics Ireland Irish Runner Series kicked off with its first race under summer conditions in the Phoenix Park. The atmosphere at today's race was one of the best this year. Music, lively commentary, fabulous weather and a very high level of organisation made this a very enjoyable day.
This was also part of the National 5k Championships where so many medals were up for grabs. Over 310 athletes registered to take part in the Championship race with over 630 registering for the open race.
The men's race was a mouth watering prospect when we saw who was on the start line. Efrem Gidey, Peter Somba, Kieran Kelly, Rory O'Connor and many more were ready to look for National glory and take the 2022 5k title.
It was Efrem Gidey of Clonliffe Harriers who once again left the field behind and stormed home in a time of 13:51. In 2nd was Peter Somba of Dunboyne AC (not part of the National Champs) and in 3rd was Rory O'Connor of North Cork AC.
The women's race was also mouth watering and leaving us with the question of who would be the women's National Champion. This was a close race between Ciara Hickey of Brothers Pearse and Ciara Wilson of DMP AC. Ciara Hickey took the National title in a time of 16:24. Emma O' Brien was 3rd (not part of National Champs)
Clonliffe Harriers had a good day at the office and also claimed 1st Senior men's team, 1st 35+ mens and 2nd women's team.
Brothers Pearse took the women's top team prize with Ciara Hickey, Dee O'Keeffe and Sinead Tighe making up the team
All national results are provisional until ealry next week once all have been vetted and verified.
We are looking forward to the next Irish Runner series race which is the 5 Mile on June 12th followed by the Irish Runner 10 mile on July 10th. Today was a great stepping stone to the 5 mile and enables participants to get to their overall goal of a 10mile race or even towards a marathon.
How the National Championships Scoring works.
If you did not declare age category teams you will fall into the youngest member of the team. Ie 2 over 35+ and 1 50+. That undeclared team becomes an over 35+ team.
The exception to this rule. The fastest 3 teams fall into senior teams provided they were not pre declared prior to the event. When declaring teams you lock your team into the declared category.
Ex Brothers Pearse ladies won today's Senior team award as they did not declare their team as Masters. They left it open so they could be flexible to fall into the senior team category.
TOP 3 TEAMS TRUMPS ALL SENIOR TEAM AWARDS. Another example was Rathfarnham WSAF A.C men. They had an undeclared team and they finished 3rd overall. This locked them out of the 35+ teams. If they declared previously as an over 35+ team would have finished 1st in the 35+ teams for men
RESULTS ARE PROVISIONAL
START LINE VIDEO
EFREM GIDEY WINNER
CIARA HICKEY WINNER
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