Over 20,000 participants took part in the Dublin Marathon yesterday and Mick Clohisey’s winning of the Irish Athletics National Marathon title in a superb 2:15:57 drew memories back to a time when Donegal competitors excelled at this event.
In the women’s race yesterday, Letterkenny native Caitriona Jennings finished sixth overall and was the second fastest Irishwoman.
It was the third year in succession for Jennings, a 2012 Olympian, to finish as the second Irishwoman in the event.
Clohisey was the fastest Irishman, his time the fastest by an Irish athlete since 1991.
Since then, a Donegal athlete has been fastest Irishman on eight occasions.
Letterkenny AC’s Gary Crossan had the fastest times by an Irish athlete in four successive years, from 2002-05, his best being the 2:20:26 from 2001.
In 2001, Pauric McKinney, another LAC athlete, was the quickest of the Irish, in 2:25:42.
But there is another Donegal name on the lost posted by top athletics official Pierce O’Callaghan today that is perhaps disguised somewhat by the Galway City Harriers banner under which he ran.