QUALITY FIELD SET TO TAKE TO NATIONAL 10K IN DUNBOYNE

National championship action returns to the roads this weekend as over 1600 participants take to the start-line of the Dunboyne 10k, many of whom will be battling it out for national honours come 12pm on Sunday (March 24th).

The race has attracted quality fields in both the men’s and women’s races, while hosts Dunboyne AC also boasting a bumper entry of over 60 athletes.

The men’s race includes the top three placed finishers from the recent Streets of Portlaoise 5k which took place on St Patrick’s Day. Pierre Murchan (DCH) was first home on that occasion, crossing the 5k finish in a winning time of 14.24 ahead of Emmet Jennings (DSD) and Eoin Everard (Kilkenny Cith Harriers) who also look set to take their places on Sunday.

Mitchell Byrne (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) has also been in flying form in recent weeks, taking the win at the Tallaght 5K in 15.03, while marathon maestro Martin Hoare (Celbridge AC) was back to winning ways at the recent half marathon in Bohermeen (1:06:49).

Others to look out for include Jamie Fallon (Craughwell AC) who claimed the national 10k silver in 2022, while Eoghan McElhinney (Bantry AC), Jayme Rossiter (Clonliffe Harriers), and Vinny Connolly (Mullingar Harriers) are sure to be jostling for favourable positions from the gun.

The women’s race looks to have just as much strength in depth, headlined by last year’s national marathon champion Ann Marie McGylnn (Lettterkenny AC) who was also in action in Portlaoise recently where she took the 5k win in 16.19. McGlynn was followed home by Grace Lynch (DSD), Cliona Murphy (DCH), and Catherine Mullen (Metro/St Brigid’s) around the streets of Portlaoise and all three will likely be with the leaders from the off.

Shona Heaslip (An Riocht) will undoubtedly be one of those leaders with the An Riocht athlete already enjoying plenty of success on the roads this season, most notably when claiming the Raheny 5 mile in 26.12 back in late January.

National cross country champion Fiona Everard (Bandon AC) looks set to join fellow World Cross Country Championships teammate Danielle Donegan (Tullamore Harriers) in finalising preparations for their trip to Serbia next week.

Ciara Wilson is no stranger to national championship podiums and the 2020 national indoor 3000m champion looks as strong as ever heading into this weekend on the back of a win at the Bohermeen half marathon in 1:15:32. Kate Purcell (Raheny Shamrock) followed Wilson home on that occasion and is another who will be staying on strong at the finish, while Wilson’s fellow 3,000m indoor champion, Cheryl Nolan (St Abbans), is another who wont be found wanting for a turn of foot heading into the final kilometre on Sunday.

City of Derry Spartans and Raheny Shamrock AC will be out to defend their senior team titles, while the category honours look as hard as ever to call with quality athletes sprinkled throughout Sunday’s entry.

• Race Start: 12pm
• Race Information and Course Map: https://www.dunboyneraces.ie/#race-info 
• Entry List: Here
• Provisional results will be available on MyRunResults Here