The Echo Women's Mini Marathon: Sinead O’Connor back to her best with third win in five years

Sun, 22 Sep, 2024 - 15:32

John Walshe

In only her second race of the year, Sinead O’Connor showed she was back to her best when winning The Echo Women's Mini Marathon for the third time in five years.

And, for good measure, her time of 17:18 for the 5km was a one-second improvement on last year’s winning time of her Leevale colleague Lizzie Lee who had to settle for second on this occasion.

Making it a clean sweep for the city club was Lisa Hegarty in third with Holly Carroll, Blarney-Inniscarra, finishing fourth.

Lee, who also been out of action since the start of the year, made her intentions clear from the start and at the one-kilometre mark down the Marina, reached in 3:26, was at the front of a group of four.

The Lord Mayor Cllr Dan Boyle, with Grainne McGuinness Editor, The Echo, and Pat Walsh, chairman Cork County Board athletics association with Sinead O'Connor, winner, Lizzie Lee, 2nd and third Lisa Hegarty all from Leevale in The Echo Women's Mini Marathon. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

As the race developed, it came down to a two-way battle and with around 600 metres to go O’Connor made her move and at the finish had a 10-second margin over Lee in a repeat of the 2022 race when the distance was over four miles.

“I’m thrilled to win as I had a second baby in January, so if you asked me a month ago would I have got to the start line I’d have said ‘no way’, so I’m really happy with that,” said O’Connor, who was Irish champion on the road over 10km in 2022.

Lizzie was pushing it the whole way so I wasn’t going to take it out but I’d be confident of my kick. This is only my second race of the year.

"I got injured after the John Buckley Sports race so I didn’t race all summer. I only entered on Friday, but this is my favourite race and once again it was brilliantly organised.”

Last year Lee was coming off of 16 straight victories on the road but this time hasn’t raced since the New Year’s Day Togher 5km.

So to come second was a bonus. “I would have liked to win but I must say I’m 99% happy with that,” said the 2016 Olympian.

CLEAN SWEEP

Third-placed Hegarty – second to O’Connor in 2019 - has also been suffering from injury so she two was pleased to make it a Leevale clean sweep which augurs well for the club’s prospects for the forthcoming cross-country season.

Breaking up the Leevale dominance was Holly Carroll in fourth, a rare appearance on the road for the Blarney-Inniscarra athlete although she did win the John Buckley Sports 5km back in May.

“I was happy with that, it’s my first race back after a break,” said the 20-year-old UCC student who will now concentrate on the Inter-Varsity cross-country championships which this year take place in Cork on October 19.

At the other end of the age category, there was victory again for the evergreen Mary Sweeney in her F60 age-group, the St Finbarr’s runner recording a fine time of 22:16.

Participants taking part in The Echo Women's Mini Marathon. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

“I’m grateful, I’m happy to be running and so happy to be here. I ran the half-marathon in Charleville last week and I’m doing the Dublin Marathon again,” said the Youghal native, a former Mini-Marathon winner.

“Today is not just about the elite, everyone is out there to achieve their own goals and well done to everyone such as the stewards and supporters who make the day happen.”

Top 20 finishers:

1 Sinead O’Connor (Leevale, F35) 17:18;

2 Lizzie Lee (Leevale, F40) 17:28;

3 Lisa Hegarty (Leevale) 17:32;

4 Holly Carroll (Blarney-Inniscarra) 17:45;

5 Carol Finn (Leevale, F35) 17:56;

6 Michelle Kenney (Leevale, F45) 18:01;

7 Rebecca McEvoy (St Finbarrs) 18:21;

8 Nellie Bateman (Belgooly, FJ) 18:23;

9 Aoife Delargy (Nenagh Olympic) 18:31;

10 Saoirse Twomey (West Muskerry, FJ) 18:53;

11 Hannah Smith (Leevale, FJ) 19:00;