Mayo AC had a record 49 finishers in the recent 37th Dublin City Marathon which incorporated the National Marathon Championships. It was a brilliant day for all of them, experiencing the atmosphere generated by large crowds along the course of one of Europe's top city marathons. Sixteen of them completed the 26.2 mile distance for the first time, adding to the excitement of the occasion for the club. It was a perfect day for running with hardly a breeze and temperatures of 12-14C.
Sean Murphy led the Mayo AC contingent home in an excellent 2:53.00 with Matthew Gill and Noel Gibbons second and third men. Norah Newcombe 2:53.41 also ran a great race and finished a brilliant 16th woman overall and sixth Irish. She was well supported in the Senior team by Sarah Syron second and Anne Marie Staunton third. These three women's combined time of 9:28.43 won bronze - a brilliant result - third of 123 teams competing. It was the third time in the last 10 years that Mayo AC has won senior team medals in the National Marathon. Well done to Norah Newcombe who added to her team bronze, winning gold in the F35 category.
It was a very competitive National championships event with a record 3,800 club runners competing among the 16,760 finishers.
Mayo AC had 14 women in its F35 team and the combined time of the best three Marcella McDonnell, Ursula O’Grady, and Tracy Cunnane placed them 90th of 233 clubs. The W50 women just missed out on bronze finishing fourth of 12 teams. Monica Joyce and Mary Murphy also missed out on individual medals – both finished fourth in F55, F60 respectively. The club also had teams competing in M35 and M50 categories. Details of all Mayo AC marathon finishing times and other upcoming events are at www.mayoac.com
The next National Championships race is the Inter Clubs Cross Country at Abbotstown on Sunday November 27. Before then the next big event locally is the 51st running of Hollymount Road Races on Sunday November 20. It is also the final event in 2016 Mayo AC Vodafone C&C Cellular Club League.
