Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon
23 September 2019
In a record year with around 5,000 Half Marathon participants taking part, Gideon Kipsang Kimosop claims victory for the 3rd year in a row (4th in total) at the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon, as Letterkenny AC's Anne Marie McGlynn took the honours in emphatic fashion.
It was always going to be a tall order for anyone to get close to 32 year old Kimosop from the Rift Valley who was going for a record 4th victory in this event. A year ago, he won by the commanding margin of 3 minutes and there was every expectation this year that there would be a similar result.
However for a long time in the early rain sodden conditions the Kenyan had company in the form of Acorns AC's Eoin Hughes. He and 59 year old father Tommy Hughes (Termoneeny Running Club) were making a concentrated attempt to break the World record for a combined Father /Son time which stands at 2 hrs 20 mins 33 secs.
The Hughes family stuck grimly to this difficult task and the record was still feasible at the half way mark where Eoin was only 20 secs behind Waterside Half Marathon champion Kimosop. At that stage in the Women’s race McGlynn was enjoying another superb run and was well clear of local woman Gladys Ganiel.
In the second part of the race former Belfast Marathon runner up Kimosop established a commanding lead and crossed the line in a useful time of 66 mins 58 secs. Eoin Hughes fought to the end up in 2nd place with a time of 68 mins 30 secs while former Olympic marathon runner Tommy secured 7th spot in 72 mins 34 secs. Unfortunately their attack on the world record frustratingly only failed by 31 seconds.
Laganside winner John Black (North Belfast Harriers) was 3rd in 69 mins 12 secs with Chris Madden (City of Lisburn AC) taking 4th spot. The top six were completed by Kyle Doherty (City of Derry Spartans) in 71 mins 3 secs and Gareth Lyons (North Belfast Harriers) in 72 mins 10 secs.
In the Women’s race a rapid McGlynn took the spoils in an outstanding time of 72 mins 58 secs which is her second fastest ever and ensured an overall 9th place. Anne Marie has carried all before her in road races this year and in the future will be hoping to lower her marathon personal best time of 2 hrs 39 minutes.
Former Commonwealth Games competitor Ganiel was second some way back in 77 mins 21 secs. She was followed by England’s Joanne McCandless (79 mins 50 secs), Sarah Lavery (Beechmount Harriers) in 79 mins 59 secs and Catherine Whoriskey (City of Derry Spartans) in 80 mins 10 secs.