Catherina McKiernan yesterday became the first athlete to win the 10 kilometre Women's Mini Marathon three years in succession. The Cavan runner, who led the race from beginning to end along with 21 year old Kenyan Madeline Chemjor, finished in 33 minutes 31 seconds, 42 seconds outside her own record set in 1997. Chemjor came second in 33 minutes 31 seconds and Dublin's Maria McCambridge third in 35 minutes 17 seconds.
McKiernan's win will have come as no real surprise given her remarkable pedigree, but it signifies the end of what has been an extremely difficult year of injury for the world class runner.
"I was under a bit of pressure when I knew the Kenyan girl was in it. I had to concentrate so I didn't get a chance to wave at the crowd. But I don't like to be beaten on my home ground." she said. "I think this year was more special than the previous two races. In the previous two I was expected to win but this one I didn't know how I was going." McKiernan had raced against Chemjor three weeks ago in Holland and just pipped her at the finish. Yesterday, however, the Irish girl took the lead four kilometres out forcing Chemjor to chase in vain. "I'm going to prepare now for the Chicago marathon and keep my fingers crossed that I remain injury free. I'll run a race next week in Portugal, then a 15 K near New York followed by a half marathon and a 10 K before the marathon in Chicago," said McKiernan.
Belfast's Theresa Duffy, having come second to McKiernan in 1997 and 1998 came in fourth, three seconds behind Mc Cambridge with fifth place Pauline Curley also credibly ducking in under the 36 minute mark.
Conditions were ideal for the race which was completed with the usual fanfare of colour and high spirits. The breathless, warm day also allowed Patrice Dockery to clip a fraction off her old course record of 29 minutes 50 seconds in the wheelchair race. Her winning time of 29 minutes 49 seconds was ten minutes quicker than second placed Collette O'Reilly and Emer Patten in third.
1. C McKiernan (Cavan) 33 minutes 14 seconds 2 M Chemjor (Kenya) 33 minutes 31 seconds 3. M McCambridge (Dublin) 35 minutes 17 seconds 4. T Duffy (Antrim) 35 minutes 19 seconds 5. P Curley (Offaly) 35 minutes 25 seconds 6. M Sheehan (Cork) 36 minutes 02 seconds 7. G Foley (Dublin) 36 minutes 12 seconds 8. Niamh O'Sullivan (Kerry) 36 minutes 28 seconds 9. O Bollard (Dublin) 36 minutes 37 seconds 10. A Lennon (Mayo) 36 minutes 55 seconds. Wheelchair Race: 1. P Dockery 29 minutes 49 seconds 2. C O'Reilly 39 minutes 56 seconds 3. E Patten 40 minutes 25 seconds.
Dwain Chambers became only the second Briton after Linford Christie to break 10 seconds for the 100 metres when he ran 9.99secs at the Nuremberg Track Festival last night.
