A record 9,500 runners braved wet September conditions in Dublin’s Phoenix Park today to complete this year’s SSE Airtricity Dublin Half Marathon. The event, the fourth and last in the SSE Airtricity Dublin Race Series ahead of next month’s SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon, completely sold out after increasing the capacity to 9,500 from 7,000 last year.
Athletes Sean Hehir and Barbara Sanchez took the podium honours ahead of the capacity field in the Park.
Hehir of Rathfarnham W.S.A.F Athletic Club won the Men’s Half Marathon in a time of 1:07.45. Hehir comfortably controlled the race from the start, holding off Ethiopan, Fikru Teshager (1:08.58) and Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club member, Mark Kirwan (1:09.27). In the women’s race, France’s Barbara Sanchez took the victory in a time of 1:18.26. Catriona McKiernan (1:19.27) collected her fourth second place finish of the Race Series, while 2012 Olympian, Caitriona Jennings (Rathfarnham W.S.A.F. AC) took bronze in a time of 1:20.33.
Sean Hehir was delighted with his performance, and commented on his progress towards the upcoming marathon: “It was wet and windy, but the fantastic atmosphere made up for it with over 9,000 people taking part. It’s a good, challenging course, I was feeling good and relaxed, so I’m quite happy with how today went. I’ve got five weeks to go until the big one though! Dublin is my favourite marathon to run by a country mile. Nineteen and a half thousand people – the atmosphere will be amazing. I’m happy with the win today, but not going to get carried away. I have five weeks to get the last of the work in, but this was great motivation to push towards winning a third National Marathon Title.”
Barbara Sanchez, who lived in Dublin for ten years but moved back to France this past year, flew in to Dublin at 1am this morning to take part in today’s race. The French woman commented on how much she enjoys competing in the SSE Airtricity Race Series: “It was very tough conditions, but I wanted to take part because I like this race. Everything is perfect for racing here; the organisation, the atmosphere – maybe not the weather today – I think it was a head wind the whole race! But it was good and I’m happy with my running and of course, nice to take the win.”
The SSE Airtricity Dublin Half Marathon brings runners one step closer to the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon taking place on October 30, starting from Fitzwilliam Square.
For more information or to follow the action, visit the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon website at sseairtricitydublinmarathon.ie and stay updated with facebook/DublinMarathon or @dublinmarathon.
