Athletics Ireland – News – Kenneally Tunes Up For Vienna Marathon

Kenneally raced into an early lead and was never challenged as he coasted to victory in 18 minutes 26 seconds-an ideal tune up performance for his marathon debut in Vienna in three weeks time.

The strongly built Clonliffe Harriers runner also led his team to top honours ahead of Raheny Shamrock A.C and City of Derry. Richard Corcoran of Raheny Shamrock A.C finsished second in 18:48 and Thomas Fitzpatrick of Tallaght A.C was third in 18:55.

“This was an important tune up race for me in my preparaton for the Vienna marathon,“Mark Kenneally said. “I came off a heavy week of training to run here and I am happy with the result.”

Kenneally will be chasing an Olympic qualifying standard in Vienna where he is confident that a performance in the region of 2 hours 13 minutes. “I won a 15 kilometer race in Florida a few weeks ago in 43:33 and I placed 4th in a 20km event in Holland in 59:30,“he said. “These performances , as well as today’s run, have given me the extra confidence that I need for my marathon debut.”

Kerry Harty of Newcastle A.C in county Down led all the way to win the women’s race in 21:42. Kate O’Neill of Metro St Brigid’s A.C placed second in 22:57 and Fiona Roche of Raheny Shamrock A.C was third in
23:12.Sportsworld won the women’s team event from Raheny Shamrock A.C and Drogheda & District A.C.

“This is my second win in a week, as I also won the St Patrick’s Festival Road Race in Dublin last Sunday,“Kerry Harty said. “I will be soon heading for stint of high altitude training in Font Remeau in France to prepare for the track season. I would love to get an Olympic qualifying standard this year and I may look to the steeplechase as an event where I could achieve that standard.”

This was the biggest entry ever in the Dunboyne event- sponsored for the first time this year by irishrail.ie.

Among the finishers was Ronan Scully of RTE TV Operation Transformation fame, who ran the event with another Operation Transformation volunteer, Sinead Heffernan.

Now, Ronan Scully, who is a former inter county hurler for offaly, has his sights set on a more demanding event in April when he takes part in the North Pole Marathon. Scully, who works for the GOAL charity, is looking forward to his next challenge which will be a big fund raiser for GOAL.

Weather conditions were excellent for yesterday’s Dunboyne event which is famous for it’s friendly village atmosphere and post race refreshments.

dunboyne ac, road race

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