The second leg of the Biofreeze Athletics Ireland Race Series, held in association with Active Cities Dublin, brought a thrilling morning of championship action to the Phoenix Park as Emmet Jennings (Dundrum South Dublin AC) and Patricia Jackman (Waterford AC) stormed to victory in the National 5 Mile Championships.
Men’s Race: Jennings Reclaims Title and Leads DSD to Team Gold
Emmet Jennings reclaimed the national 5 mile title he first won in 2023, clocking an impressive 24:19. His victory also anchored Dundrum South Dublin AC (DSD) to the senior team title.
“Delighted with the win,” said Jennings. “I won this two years ago and missed out last year. I’ve had a couple of minor injuries, so I’m just getting back now. I ran the national 5k a few weeks ago as a rust-buster and finished sixth, so the plan was to improve here—and I did, so I’m delighted.”
Reflecting on the race, he added:
“We went out fast and eased in. There was a bigger group than I’d have liked, so I kept the pace up in the humid conditions. Things began to split at the hill around two and a half miles. After that, it was me, Kieran, and Kane until about three and a half miles. They got ahead around the four-mile mark, but I caught them with a kilometre to go—and it came down to a sprint finish.”
Kane Collins (Donore Harriers) delivered a superb performance to take silver in 24:25, while Jamie Byrne (DSD AC) secured bronze in 24:42.
Defending champion Kieran Kelly was unlucky to fall in the final 50 metres, losing a podium spot in what had been a strong title defence.
DSD’s team gold was also powered by Sean Quinn (13th) and Robert Corbally (20th), edging Raheny Shamrock AC by just seven seconds.
Women’s Race: Jackman Seizes Her First National Title
With 2024 champion Ciara Wilson absent, the women’s race was wide open. Patricia Jackman (Waterford AC) rose to the occasion, winning in 27:16 and making the trip home from the UK well worth it.
“I’m kind of surprised—this was my first national race in Ireland,” said Jackman. “I only started running a few years ago. After chatting with my coach, we decided to go for one of the national races this year, and this one worked out. There were some amazing runners, and I didn’t know how I’d compare, so I just gave it my best.”
She continued:
“I had a niggly injury last year, but I built up mileage over the winter and got into shape this spring. I’ve done a few 5ks and 10ks recently to improve my speed, even though I initially leaned toward longer distances. It’s been fun to test myself over shorter distances, and I’m delighted to finish on a high before a well-earned break.”
Hannah Steeds (Leevale AC) pushed hard to claim silver in 27:32, while Meghan Ryan (DSD AC) added another championship medal with her bronze in 27:58. Ryan led DSD to the women’s team title, alongside Serena Tuffy and Lisa Gaughran. The DSD women dominated the team standings, finishing more than three minutes ahead of Galway City Harriers.
Double Double for DSD
With victories in both the men’s and women’s 5k and 5 mile championships, DSD AC has achieved an impressive double-double in the 2025 series so far. Attention now turns to the National 10 Mile Championships on Sunday, July 20th, also in Phoenix Park, where DSD will aim to complete a clean sweep.
Select Results
Men’s Individual
Emmet Jennings – 24:19 (Dundrum South Dublin AC)
Kane Collins – 24:25 (Donore Harriers AC)
Jamie Byrne – 24:42 (Dundrum South Dublin AC)
Women’s Individual
Patricia Jackman – 27:16 (Waterford AC)
Hannah Steeds – 27:32 (Leevale AC)
Meghan Ryan – 27:58 (Dundrum South Dublin AC)
Senior Men’s Teams
Dundrum South Dublin AC – 1:41:34
Raheny Shamrock AC – 1:41:42
Mullingar Harriers AC – 1:45:26
Senior Women’s Teams
Dundrum South Dublin AC – 1:29:11
Galway City Harriers AC – 1:31:08
Raheny Shamrock AC – 1:34:29
What’s Next?
The next event in the 2025 Athletics Ireland Race Series is the National 10 Mile Championships, returning to Phoenix Park on Sunday, July 20th.
Irish Runner 5 Mile Podium
