NI & Ulster athlete Catriona Jennings claims AAI National Marathon medal
29 October 2018
Donegal lady Catriona Jennings (Letterkenny AC / Teresa McDaid) secured a silver medal as hundreds of local athletes took on the SSE Airtricity Dublin City Marathon (Sunday 28th October 2018).
The event incorporated the AAI National Marathon Championships.
Olympian Catriona, a regular at the Dublin Marathon and a National medallist twelve months ago, clocked 2:41:17 to finish in 6th place; this was enough to see Catriona take 2nd place in the National Championship. The only Irish lady ahead of Catriona was fellow Olympian Lizzie Lee (Leevale AC), who claimed the National gold and 3rd place overall in 2:35:04.
Kyle Doherty (City of Derry AC) and Ciara Toner (Springwell RC) recorded significant personal bests as they led the large Northern Ireland contingent home at the event.
Spartan Kyle Doherty slashed nearly eight minutes off his personal best as he clocked an excellent 2:27:36 for the classic 26.2 mile distance. This was enough to see Kyle claim 26th place.
St Malachy's AC man Thomas Frazer followed in 2:29:04, before Lawrence O'Hara and Vincent McKenna also impressed. Lawrence crossed the line in a new personal best of 2:31:39, while Vincent ran 2:31:40 in his 26.2 mile debut.
In the ladies race, Northern Ireland international Ciara Toner smashed the famous three hour barrier and her previous personal best when she crossed the line in 2:53:44 for 16th place. Natalie Hall of Armagh AC and Sinead Murtagh of Newcastle AC both went under three hours, with Natalie running 2:57:30 and Sinead 2:59:28.
The Dublin City Marathon 2018 was won by Asefa Bekele in 2:13:23, with Mesera Dubiso taking the ladies title in 2:33:48. Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock AC) took gold in the men's AAI National Marathon Championships in 2:15:58.
Full results from the event are available HERE.