Irish give their all in Valencia

Quality competition in Valencia

It was a testing day for the Irish in high-quality competition at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia today (March 24).

The Irish women were led home by Lizzie Lee (Leevale) in 46th with a personal best performance of 1:13:19. Claire McCarthy (Leevale) also ran a pb in 57th with 1:14:20 with Laura Graham (Mourne Runners) in 78th in 1:16:27, Laura Shaughnessy (DSD) in 79th in 1:16:28 and Fionnuala Ross (Armagh) 82nd in 1:16:53.

The women’s team were 14th where Ethiopia’s Netsanet Gudeta set a women’s only race world record of 66:11 to win individual gold.

Paul Pollock (Annadale Striders) was the first Irish man home in 77th in 1:04:29 followed by Kevin Seaward (St Malachy’s) in 85th in 1:04:56, Stephen Scullion (Clonliffe Harriers) 92nd in 1:05:19, Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers) 101st in 1:06:19 and Kevin Dooney (Raheny Shamrock) 135th in 1:12:14. The men’s team were 21st.

Geoffrey Kamworor became the second man in history to win a hat-trick of World Half Marathon Championships. The Kenyan crossed the line in Valencia in 1:00:02.

For full results of the event click HERE