Five NI athletes named in Ireland’s IAAF World Half Marathon Championships team!

Local stars named in Ireland’s IAAF World Half Marathon Championships team:

Five runners from Northern Ireland have been named in a strong Ireland team for the upcoming IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, which will be held on Saturday 24th March 2018 in Valencia, Spain.

Olympians Paul Pollock (Annadale Striders / Andrew Hobdell) and Kevin Seaward (St Malachy’s AC / Andrew Hobdell), and in-form athlete Stephen Scullion (Clonliffe Harriers / Stephen Haas), who ran a huge personal best of 1:03:16 at the Houston Half Marathon in America in January (2018), will join Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers / Jerry Kiernan) and Kevin Dooney (Raheny Shamrock AC / Jerry Kiernan) in the men’s team.

Shortly after the official team announcement, both Paul and Kevin took to social media, expressing their delight:

Paul said: “Delighted to have been selected for my fourth World half marathon Champs IAAF/Trinidad Alfonso World Half Marathon Championships Valencia 2018. 34th, 30th, 14th, ?? Thanks to coach Andrew Hobdell and fellow teammate Kevin Seaward. Busy five weeks ahead for both of us! Good to see so many Northern Irish on the team too!”

His training partner Kevin added, “Delighted and honoured to be selected for World Half Marathon championships in Valencia alongside training partner Paul Pollock Thanks to coach Andrew Hobdell. Final preparation race for Commonwealth Games marathon. Big five weeks ahead! Congratulations to all selected!”

Mourne Runners star Laura Graham (Ryan Maxwell) will make her international debut for Ireland, after representing Northern Ireland at the recent Armagh International 3k.  Scotland based Fionnuala Ross (Armagh AC / Dermot Kerr), who has a 13.1 mile best of 1:14:26, is also in the team.  The local ladies will join Lizzie Lee (Leevale AC / Donnie Walsh), Laura Shaughnessy (DSD AC / Terry McConnon) and Claire McCarthy (Leevale AC / Ronan Boland) in the line-up.

The full Ireland team for the event is available below:

Men Coach Club
Stephen Scullion Stephen Haas Clonliffe Harriers AC
Kevin Dooney Jerry Kiernan Raheny Shamrock AC
Kevin Seaward Andy Hobdell St Malachy’s AC
Paul Pollock Andy Hobdell Annadale Striders
Sergiu Ciobanu Jerry Kiernan Clonliffe Harriers AC
Women Coach Club
Lizzie Lee Donie Walsh Leevale AC
Laura Shaughnessy Terry McConnon DSD AC
Fionnuala Ross Dermot Kerr Armagh AC
Claire McCarthy Ronan Boland Leevale AC
Laura Graham Ryan Maxwell Mourne Runners

Note:  Article compiled for use by Athletics NI.

Full story available on Athletics Ireland website HERE.

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