Ryan revels in blistering conditions

ATHLETICS WOMEN'S MINI MARATHON:BEHIND THE mood of mass participation that is the women's mini marathon there is also a title at stake, one of the most cherished in Irish distance running, and that was illustrated by the look of sheer joy across the face of Rosemary Ryan when arriving first home of the 40,000-plus runners in Dublin yesterday.

Ryan admitted it had been something of a lifelong ambition to win the race, and yesterday the 33-year-old from Limerick achieved her goal by leading the 10km course from gun to tape – despite the brutally hot conditions.

Having finished second two years ago in her only previous appearance in the event, Ryan crossed the finish line, arms aloft, in a time of 34 minutes 36 seconds – more than a full minute faster than last year’s winning time.

She showed no signs of fatigue either despite being a minute clear of the equally popular Offaly woman Pauline Curley, herself a former winner, and who last summer represented Ireland in the marathon at the Beijing Olympics.

Then came last year’s winner, the 40-year-old Annette Kealy from Raheny in 36:03, with Siobhán O’Doherty from Tipperary a highly creditable fourth in 36:41.

Ryan herself is a former Olympian, having run the 5,000 metres at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and was also a member of Ireland’s silver medal-winning team alongside Sonia O’Sullivan, Ann Keenan Buckley and Catherina McKiernan at the European cross-country in 2003.

“Now I want to get really fit and in peak condition for the same European cross-country when they are staged in Dublin next December,” she declared afterwards. “That is my next big target.

“The weather did not bother me too much but I had a chance to go abroad with some Irish athletes to train in the warm weather some weeks ago and that helped me out there today. Everything picked up for me from that training spell.

“You don’t get days like this too much in Ireland but it was a question of going out and trying to ignore the conditions and just concentrate on the job that has to be done. I’ve been watching this race over the years and having finished second two years ago it made me even more determined to come here and win it.”

Curley was well pleased with her runner-up position: “I will never forget that day in Beijing for as long as I live but it’s just a great thrill to be running against all these girls here today.”

Niamh O’Sullivan of Kerry, who was second three years ago, was a little further back this time in sixth, just beaten for fifth by Caitriona Jennings from Dublin with the remainder of the 40,000 entries soon filling the finishing area hoping for their own personal best achievements.

Elsewhere, Michael Herlihy made it a home win in yesterday’s Cork City Marathon, finishing in a time of 2:30.36. The 28 year-old from Charleville, running in his first marathon, took over at halfway for the comfortable victory – with Lucy Brennan from Sligo defending her women’s title in 2:51:25.