TULLAMORE TEST FOR 2023 NATIONAL HALF MARATHON
The national half marathon championships take place alongside the sold-out Bord Na Mona Tullamore Harriers Half Marathon this Saturday (August 26th).
The race will start from Harriers Stadium at 10 o’clock taking in a scenic route through Mucklagh, Killurin and Cloonagh before finishing with a lap of the stadium track.
It promises to be an ultra-competitive race with over 800 athletes set to battle it out over the generally flat course for team and individual honours across the various age groups.
Crusaders A.C. will bid to defend the senior men’s title they won in Ratoath last year, while Raheny Shamrock A.C. are sending another strong team to Tullamore as they look to retain the women’s title.
Last year’s champion Kate Purcell will spearhead the Raheny challenge in the women’s race as she bids to go back-to-back. Purcel won’t have it all her own way however with last year’s silver and bronze medallists also returning in Sarah Baryga (Sli Cualann) and Denise Toner (Clones A.C.), while Letterkenny’s Natasha Adams will ensure a true pace from the gun.
Ciara Hickey (Brothers Pearse A.C.) looks a leading favourite for the race following her brilliant win at the Final 10K earlier this summer.
Peter Brandon Somba (Dunboyne A.C.) was second in last year’s men’s race and will be out to better that result come Saturday morning. Stephen Conroy (Celbridge A.C.) ran a huge race in last year’s national half to finish within 30-seconds of the top three and is sure to be right up there once again.
Hosts Tullamore boast an entry of over 60 athletes in the championship race and can be expected to challenge for the category medals.
Athletics Ireland would like to thank all in Tullamore Harriers for hosting this year’s championships.