Great Ireland Run, incorporating AAI National 10k Championships:
The SPAR Great Ireland Run incorporated the Woodies DIY National 10k Championships and saw Olympian Linda Byrne of DSD take the Irish title in 6th place in 34:24. Stephen Scullion of North Belfast Harriers finished in 7th place in the SPAR Great Ireland Run and took the Irish national 10k title in 30:15.
The event also featured the SPAR Great Ireland Mile for elite men run on the main road of the Phoenix Park. Paul Robinson of St Coca’s AC in Kildare was a decisive winner coming home in 4 minutes and 14 seconds.
Defending women’s champion Gemma Steel of Great Britain had to settle for second place behind compatriot Lauren Howarth who won in 33:36 ahead of Steel’s 33:49. Julia Bleasdale in third made it a clean sweep for the Britons in 33:53.
Men:
1. Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) 28:51, 2. Sergiy Lebid (Ukraine) 29:08, 3. Ibrahim Jeilan (Ethiopia) 29:18, 4. Hamid El Mouaziz (Belgium) 29:26, 5. Collis Birmingham (Australia) 29:30, 6. Urige Buta (Norway) 29:40, 7. Stephen Scullion (Ireland) 30:15, 8. Mats Lunders (Belgium) 30:28
Women:
1. Lauren Howarth (Great Britain) 33:36, 2. Gemma Steel (Great Britain) 33:49, 3. Julia Bleasdale (Great Britain) 33:53, 4. Diana Martin (Spain) 34:03, 5. Elena Romagnolo (Italy) 34:19, 6. Linda Byrne (Ireland) 34:24, 7. Elle Baker (Great Britain) 34:38, 8. Emma Clayton (Great Britain) 35:07
SPAR Great Ireland Mile:
1. Paul Robinson (St Coca’s AC) 4:14, 2. Eoin Everard (Kilkenny City Harriers) 4:16, 3. David Harper (Sligo AC) 4:18
Article and Photograph taken from Athletics Ireland website.