Tralee Marathon 2015 - summary of event

Third edition of Kerry's Eye Tralee International Marathon took place on Sunday 15 March 2015 with new route, new start line for Full Marathon and new finish line for both Half and Full Marathon.
New route for Full Marathon includes almost full distance of our own Banna 10K route, known for its almost flat surface making it one of the fastest 10K's in Munster.
With the number of participants slightly lower compared to previous years it was still a  well attended event which included large groups from Kerry athletic clubs and other running groups.
For runners registered with Athletics Ireland it was also Kerry Athletics Championships in Full and Half Marathon and St.Brendan's AC was at the top of the podium with Derek Griffin finishing 3rd overall and 1st Kerryman in another sub 3hrs performance.

Full Marathon results HERE.
Top 3 Men overall:
1. Gary O'Hanlon (Clonliffe Harriers AC)      2:31:48
2. Michael O'Regan                                     2:45:47
3. Derek Griffin (St.Brendan's AC)             2:53:19

Top 3 Women overall:
1. Anna Meria Costelloe (Gneeveguilla AC) 2:58:39
2. Ann Marie Holland (St.Finbarrs AC)        3:02:37
3. Ruthann Sheahan (Athenry AC)              3:09:35

Kerry Marathon Championships (unofficial results, subject to correction when Kerry Athletics release official results in the future ):
Men:
1.Derek Griffin    (St.Brendan's AC)
2.Tommy O'Brien (An Riocht AC)
3.Billy O'Brien     (An Riocht AC)

Women:
1.Anna Meria Costelloe (Gneeveguilla AC)
2.Sharon Cahill            (An Riocht AC)
3.Margaret Carlin        (St.Brendan's AC)

St.Brendan's AC was well represented in Full 26.2M distance by Margaret Carlin 10th female overall (3:27:33) and by our estimates she was also 3rd in Kerry Full Marathon Championships. Rest of our club members put great performances with all finishing in under 4hrs 17min:
Tom Scanlon (3:51), Artur Nowak (3:56), Cathy Quilter (4:16), Pat Sheehy (4:16).

An hour and 15min later it was a time for Half Marathon runners to take off for 13.1M distance. Route for Half Marathon was almost unchanged with only minor adjustments to finish line.
Half Marathon results HERE.
Top 3 Men overall:
1. David Mansfield     1:10:04
2. Michael O'Regan    1:13:56
3. Julio Cesar Castro 1:16:06

Top 3 Women overall:
1. Sharon Woods                 1:30:36
2. Alison Kirwan (SOTL AC)  1:31:41
3. Susan Murnane                1:33:14

Kerry Marathon Championships (again only unofficial results, subject to correction when Kerry Athletics release official results in the future ):
Men:
1. Sean O'Sullivan (An Riocht AC)
2. Donal White     (Gneeveguilla AC)
3. Roland Eagar    (Star of The Laune AC)

Women:
1. Alison Kirwan           (Star of The Laune AC)
2. Deirdre Enright        (An Riocht AC)
3. Catherine O'Sullivan (An Riocht AC)

St.Brendan's AC runners in Half Marathon includes:
Ursula Barrett (1:42), William Griffin(1:43), Ann McGlynn (1:43), Joe O'Brien (1:53), Tommy Redmond (1:54), Tina Curtin (2:20), Kirstie Nowak (2:26), Caroline Harrington-Stack (2:16), Kieran Behan(1:50).
Congratulation to Joe O'Brien on completion of his first Half Marathon, Margaret Carlin and Derek Griffin on setting new club records in Full Marathon distances (HERE) and Ann McGlynn on a podium finish in her age category in Half Marathon.

It was a great day for runners and spectators and we would like to express our gratitude to  all the people of Ardfert and North Kerry who helped St.Brendan's AC with the smooth running of this event in the area of Ardfert and Banna and we are looking forward to Tralee Marathon 2016!

Gallery of photos HERE.