WATCH: Lizzie Lee wins The Echo Women's Mini-Marathon for the fourth time

TEN years after winning the event for the third time, Lizzie Lee returned to the winner’s rostrum with an emotional victory in the 42nd Echo Women’s Mini-Marathon, this year held over the shorter distance of 5km.

In the decade since she last won, the 43-year-old has run the marathon at the 2016 Rio Olympics, captained the Irish team to bronze medals at the 2015 European Cross-Country, along with winning numerous national titles here at home. And, also, she has given birth to her three children – Lucy (9), Allison (6) and Jessica (3½).

As predicted, the race soon developed into a two-way battle between the favourite Lee and her Leevlale clubmate, Hannah Steeds, who have battled it out in several of the local races this past summer.

At the one-kilometre mark, reached in 3:27, they were accompanied by the surprise packet of the race, Amy Pollmann-Daamen of Riocht, with a sizeable gap already opening up to Carol Finn and Michelle Kenny.

Making her move after passing Páirc Uí Chaoimh with around a mile to go, Lee prized open a slight lead which at the finish had grown to six seconds. Crossing the line with the clock showing 17:19, it was just enough to take the top spot as Steeds closed strongly to finish a clear second.

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“I’m delighted to win it after 10 years, last year I was second to Sinead [O’Connor] so it’s great to get my name again on the cup alongside the likes of Anne Keenan-Buckley, Valerie Vaughan and some of the other serious international athletes,” said the delighted winner.

Admitting she was very nervous before the start, Lee said the early pace was comfortable enough but the last mile was tough. “I was talking to Mary Sweeney before the start and she said in her day it was the one race she got most nervous about, it’s the local derby and the one that everybody cares about.” 

For Steeds, a native of Bantry, it was another runner-up spot behind her club-mate which has been the case in so many races this year. However, it was a one-place improvement from last year and she too was pleased with how it went.

Last year was the first time I did it so I’m happy with second. The course had a few twists so that definitely slowed us down; I felt we were going faster than we were.” 

Tralee native Amy Pollmann-Daamen was delighted not only to finish third but to also record a personal best of 17:43. A member of the Riocht club where she is coached by Niamh O’Sullivan, she just broke three hours (2:59:33) for the Cork City Marathon of 2022.

“I happy with that, it’s a great event. I’ve only done a few small local races this year including the recent Castleisland 5km where I was second in 17:59 but the plan now is to do cross-country for the autumn.” said the 22-year-old.

Carol Finn, sister of previous winner Michelle, finished fourth in 17:44 with another Leevale member, Michelle Kenny, fifth in 17:48 and Togher athlete Siobhan Hoare making up the top half-dozen in a time of 18:49 which also won her the first F45 prize.

Top 30 finishers:

1 Lizzie Lee (Leevale, F40) 17:19;

2 Hannah Steeds (Leevale) 17:26;

3 Amy Pollmann-Daamen (Riocht) 17:43;

4 Carol Finn (Leevale, F35) 17:44;

5 Michelle Kenny (Leevale, F40) 17:48;

6 Siobhan Hoare (Togher, F45) 18:49;

7 Rachael O’Shea (Cork TC) 18:57;

8 Freya Bateman (Belgooly, FJ) 19:01;

9 Nellie Bateman (Belgooly, FJ) 19:12;

10 Elaine Collins (Togher) 19:16;

11 Linda O’Connor (Carrigaline, F45) 19:25;

12 Vicki Spiteri (Midleton, F35) 19:29;

13 Noreen Mackey (Cork TC, F35) 19:32;

14 Saoirse Twomey (West Muskerry, FJ) 19:33;

15 Emily Knox (Leevale) 19:51;

16 Alison Donnelly (Togher) 20:01;

17 Linda Cagney (Togher, F45) 20:19;

18 Siobhan O’Leary (unatt, F50) 20:26;

19 Hannah Smith (unatt, FJ) 20:30;

20 Clare Madden (Togher, F35) 20:32;

21 Jennifer Canty (Togher, F40) 20:32;

22 Evita Volginaite (Ballymore-Cobh) 20:34;

23 Sophie O’Callaghan (unatt, FJ) 20:44;

24 Helen Walsh (Togher, F45) 20:51;

25 Jennifer Hogan (Ballymore-Cobh) 20:55;

26 Siobhan Holland (Eagle, F45) 20:59;

27 Vincentia De Barra (Ballymore-Cobh) 20:59;

28 Niamh Cotter (unatt) 21:00;

29 Clodagh Creedon (St Finbarrs, F40) 21:00;

30 Ellen Murphy (unatt, FJ) 21:00.