National 5 Mile titles up for the taking in Phoenix Park
Road titles are once again on the line this weekend as the Irish Runner 5 Mile incorporating the National 5 Mile Championships takes place this Sunday (June 11th) in the Phoenix Park.
Following on from a fantastic Irish Runner 5k last month, the second instalment of the 2023 Athletics Ireland Race Series looks set to draw a bumper turnout with over 1500 athletes expected to take to the start line.
The race gets underway at 9am, with some of the country’s finest road runners looking to take national honours back to their respective home clubs.
Two new champions will be crowned this year in the absence of last year’s winners Ian Guiden (Clonliffe Harriers A.C.) and Kate Purcell (Raheny Shamrocks A.C.).
Both races look to be wide-open with a number of athletes hoping to be in the mix for podium places.
Jake O’Regan (St. John’s A.C.) is arguably the man to beat in the men’s race. The Clare man has been in scintillating form over the past twelve months, winning silver in the recent National 5k Championships.
Emmet Jennings (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.) will also fancy his chances of mounting a challenge for gold. Jennings represented Ireland at the 2021 European Cross Country Championships on home soil in Abbottstown and has run a swift 23.40 for 5 Miles on the road.
David Troy (Lucan Harriers A.C.) was not too far off making the podium at the National 5k Championships, finishing fifth and will hope to improve on that position over the longer distance.
The women’s race could see a battle between the silver, bronze and fourth place finishers from last year who are all entered to return in 2023.
Síle O’Byrne (Slí Cualann A.C) and Zoe Quinn (Raheny Shamrocks A.C.) will look to upgrade their medals from last year, while Catherine O’Connor (Slí Cualann A.C) will have her eyes set on a podium place.
The likes of Ciara Wilson (D.M.P. A.C.), Meghan Ryan (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.), Fiona Clinton (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.) and Edel Gaffney (Trim A.C.) will all hope to make an impression and certainly can’t be discounted.
Raheny Shamrocks won both senior team titles last year and will look to defend them this time round. Slí Cualann A.C. look to have a particularly strong women’s team and having won silver last year would undoubtedly love to go one step further this year.
Liffey Valley A.C. also won team medals in both senior men’s and women’s competitions last time out and will be hoping to replicate that performance.
It promises to be an exciting morning on the roads.
