The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
The first Cliffs of Moher half marathon attracted over 700 competitors last Saturday morning. In ideal weather conditions, athletes started out in Doolin and travelled via Garrahy’s Cross up the Cliffs path and down onto Liscannor before finishing in Lahinch in aid of Clare Crusaders, St Vincent De Paul and Special Olympics Ireland.
Keith Whyte, Ennis Track won the mens’ title in 75.43 and Eileen Williams from UL Limerick and Sligo won the Ladies title in 89.20.
The big field of walkers set out from Doolin Pier at 8am with the road race at 9am over a very tough course. Three athletes made a decisive break before the mile mark – Timmy Glavey, Swinford, Mayo but living in Galway City, Mike Cunningham Bilboa AC Limerick and Clare man, Keith Whyte, a former St John’s athlete now running with Ennis Track. They went through the first mile in 5.58.
Whyte and Timmy Glavey were shoulder to shoulder at four miles and at the 10k mark in 36.58. Whyte was starting to pull away going towards St Bridget’s Well and he went through the 10-mile mark in 57.46.
He went well clear over the final three miles to capture the title in 75.43 with Timmy Glavey almost two minutes behind in 77.20.
The ladies race was also a mighty contest. American athlete Michelle McMurray set a very fast pace going through the two mile mark in 13.54.
At that stage, she was 50m clear of Eileen Williams and she had a further 50m on the first Clare athlete, Josephine Killeen from Miltown Malbay, running with Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare. Deirdre Finn from Killaloe and Bilboa AC was making very good progress with Ann Marie Brady as they made their way towards the Cliffs of Moher.
Eileen Williams stormed home over the final mile win in 89.20 two minutes ahead of Michele McMurray with Josephine Killeen holding onto third spot in 94.35.
Results
Senior Men
1. Keith Whyte, Ennis Track (75.43)
2. Timmy Glavey, Swinford (77.20)
3. Vasily Neumerzhitsky, Russia (80.10)
Ladies
1. Eileen Williams, UL Limerick (89.20)
2. Michelle McMurray, United States (91.30)
3. Josephine Killeen, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (94.35)
