McDonnell and Casey are first locals home in the Galway 8k
JOHN Travers of Donore Harriers won the 33rd edition of the Streets of Galway 8k Road Race held on Saturday evening last around the city with a superb front running performance, befitting his National champion status.
Travers, Irish international and National 1500m champion, took off in the first kilometre from the lead pack, and established an early advantage which he was never to relinquish, winning in a time of 23.56 to take his first Streets victory.
Damien Landers and Rory Chesser of Ennis Track AC were next home in a tight battle for the podium places, finishing in 24.29 and 24.35 respectively. First Galway athlete over the line was Brendan McDonnell of GCH in fourth with a good run in 24.43, ahead of fifth placer Andrew Annett of North Belfast Harriers who ran 24.48. Ennis Track took the men’s team prize for the second year running with GCH in second
In the women’s section, Irish international Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisokane AC stormed home to a third consecutive title, clocking 27.50 for a well-deserved victory for the Tipperary native.
O’Doherty finished ahead of top local athletes Regina Casey GCH in second with a personal best 28.38 and Jane Ann Meehan of Athenry AC who came home in 29.55. Rounding off the top five were Margaret Murphy of Mallow AC, and GCH’s Emma Grimes. GCH also took the women’s team title, ahead of Crusaders AC.
The race was once again a great success, thanks to the hard-working committee of Galway City Harriers, along with the assistance of hundreds of volunteers, the City Council and Gardai among others.
Huge crowds lined the start at GTI on Fr Griffin Road, and the race routes through the City Centre, Salthill and the Claddagh, and especially the finish at South Park.
A record number of runners finished the race in a field which saw thousands of Galwegians and many tourists and visitors from Irish and UK athletics clubs take to the city’s streets. The race was once again sponsored by the Galway Clinic.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
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