Chris Jeuken and Evelyn Twomey first home at Cork City Marathon

Chris Jeuken and Evelyn Twomey claimed decisive victories at the Cork City Marathon on Sunday morning, with Jeuken clocking 2:18:55 to take the men’s race and Twomey running 2:54:30 to claim the women’s title.

On a damp morning when thousands of runners took to the streets across three distances – 10K, half marathon and marathon – the two winners of the showpiece events proved a class apart over 26.2 miles.

Jeuken, running for Derg AC, a club based on the Clare-Tipperary border, took command early in the men’s race, building a 33-second lead through 10K and passing halfway in 1:08:47 with a three-minute advantage. 

He continued to extend that over the latter half, hitting the line almost six minutes clear of the runner-up, Michael Fox of Armagh AC, who clocked 2:24:42. Stephen McAuley rounded out the podium with 2:25:46.

Twomey also turned in a superb solo effort to win the women’s title, passing 10K in 38:31 with a 98-second advantage.  That grew to almost four minutes by halfway, which she passed in 1:23:36, and was over five minutes when she hit 30K. 

Though she tied up a little through the closing miles, she had more than enough in reserve to take a facile victory, hitting the line almost four minutes clear of runner-up Andrea Aza Villamore, who clocked 2:58:29 in second. Yuliya Tarasova came through strongly for third in 3:01:20.

Leevale’s Niamh Allen turned in the performance of the day to win the women’s half marathon, the 30-year-old clocking a big personal best of 1:10:06, which brought her home almost 10 minutes clear of the runner-up, Aisling Ryan, who ran 1:19:42. Pamela Kirk took third in 1:22:25.

Allen’s time was quicker than all but two athletes in the men’s race, which was won by Jake O’Regan of St. John’s AC in 1:06:51. 

David Mansfield of Clonmel AC took second in 1:08:15, with Peter Somba of Ratoath AC third in 1:10:30.

COMMANDING

Fearghal Curtin turned in a commanding display to win the men’s 10K, the Youghal athlete – who recently ran a 2:11:35 marathon in Dusseldorf – dominating the race from the outset and winning in 29:46. David McCarthy of West Waterford was next best in 31:14, with Leevale’s Gavin O’Rourke third in 31:14.

There was a podium sweep for Leevale AC in the women’s 10K, where Hannah Steeds was a comfortable winner in 34:51, with 2016 Olympian Lizzie Lee taking second in 35:30 and Niamh Moore third in 36:31.

80,000 bottles of water and energy drinks were available, along with 4000 bananas!

This year's marathon was a global affair, with 550 international participants hailing from over 26 countries. 

This together with the involvement of 1000 staff and volunteers, local running clubs, and the Sanctuary Runners added a vibrancy to the event, celebrating the unity and inclusivity of Cork.