Galway's Nicola Duncan claimed victory at the Connemara Ultra Marathon, storming home in the women's race in a time of 5hrs 1 minute.
The international athlete, recovering from a long injury lay off, was looking back to her best with Sunday's victory in the gruelling 39.3 mile event. Duncan was the ninth fastest runner in the field of nearly 200 athletes. The first man across the line was Sean Brosnan in 4hrs 32 minutes, with Jerome Debize of GCH second in 4 hrs 34 minutes.
And more good news for Galway athletes came via the marathon where Lyall Guiney of Athenry AC claimed a superb victory in 2 hrs 47 minutes. A marathon specialist, Guiney took his first race win ahead of Thomas Rosenblatt in second and Thomas Sedelmeier in third. The first woman home was Hannah Fothergill in 3hrs 3 minutes.
In the half marathon, Cristian Munoz took victory in 1.21.30, ahead of Michael Scully in second and Oliver Mullins third, while Elizabeth Wheeler was the first woman home in 1hr 36 minutes, ahead of Yvonne Brophy and Caitriona Joyce .
National Road relays
Galway athlete Alanna Lally led her UCD club to silver at the National Road Relays held in Raheny recently. Lally led the college squad off with a blistering 5.13 first leg that set up a fantastic medal-winning team performance.
Castlegar AC put in a strong performance with the masters men’s team of Sean McDermott, Stephen Casserly and Frank King finishing 14th overall in a hotly-contested event.
World Masters Games
Mary Barrett of Loughrea AC is currently competing at the World Masters Games in Auckland New Zealand and this far has won gold in the over 55 high jump and placed fourth in the siscus competition.
And in the London Mini Marathon, Shauna Bocquet of Craughwell AC claimed gold again in the wheelchair event, clocking a fast 15.20 in the U14 category.
Track and Field Championships
Day One of the Galway County Track and Field Championships takes place on Saturday at NUIG Sports grounds from 10am. The event includes county championships for all ages from U13 to U19 at juvenile level, while at senior level, all distances on the track up to 1500m and all field events are on the programme.
Highly anticipated are the senior track events over 800 and 1500 metres, with a strong men’s field including Peter O'Sullivan, Eamon Hornibrook and Sean McDermott going head to head over 1500m, and Kathryn Casserly and Jean O'Connor expected to battle it out in the women's 800m.
Day two takes place the following weekend on Sunday May 7th, which will feature competition for U8 to U12 age groups.
