For several of Ireland’s best marathoners, the door finally closed on Olympic qualification at the London Marathon yesterday, with the race to Rio de Janeiro now left in the hands of selectors ahead of next month’s deadline.

A fifth victory in a row by Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe Harriers in the men’s race in and a course record winning time of 54:20 by Maria McCambridge of Dundrum South Dublin Athletic Club were the highlight performances at yesterday’s annual Ballycotton 10 mile in East Cork — the 38th running of this Irish road classic.

Sergiu Ciobanu didn’t take long to understand the prestige and history of the Ballycotton ‘10’. Fresh off the plane from Moldova, Ciobanu quickly realised victory in East Cork would guarantee household status in local running circles.

Athletics.

IT was a return to Kenyan dominance at the SSE Dublin marathon yesterday but not without an Irish twist in the tale.

One of Ireland’s best long-distance runners has all but given up hope of competing at the European Championships in Zurich in two weeks’ time as his application for Irish citizenship has yet to come through.

It was a case of déjà vu at the Cork Marathon yesterday with Poland’s Bartosz Mazerski denying Gary O’Hanlon’s brave attempt for a third marathon victory in 15 days in a sprint finish down St Patrick’s Street, while Pauline Curley smashed her course record from last year when coming home in 2:43:37.

Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe Harriers coasted to a comfortable victory in yesterday’s Ballycotton 10-mile in East Cork — the 37th edition of this famous road race classic.

Sergiu Ciobanu, the Moldovan native who runs with Clonliffe Harriers, will start favourite to win tomorrow’s annual Ballycotton 10 mile road race in East Cork — the 37th edition of this classic event.

Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers) coasted to victory in the 36th running of the Ballycotton 10 mile road race.

Maria McCambridge won’t lack motivation when she contests today’s Dublin City Marathon.

Kenyan athlete Freddy Keron set a new course record as he became the first overseas winner of the Cork City Marathon.

Freddy Keron denied Sergui Ciobanu a notable three-in-a-row triumph when the Kenyan broke the course record to win yesterday’s sixth edition of the Cork City Marathon since it was revived in 2007.

They will come in all shapes and sizes, and all levels of expertise, but they all have just one thing in mind — getting across the finishing line.

Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers) broke the course record when winning the Bord Gáis Energy Cork City Marathon in 2010 and 2011, and that’s his target again as he bids for an unprecedented three in-a-row today.

Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers) yesterday retained his Ballycotton 10 mile road race title with a powerful display in East Cork.

NATIONAL champion, Sergiu Ciobanu shaved 20 seconds off the course record which he set last year to retain the Bord Gáis Energy Cork City Marathon title yesterday in 2:25:34 and now sets his sights on Olympic qualification.

Moldovian Sergiu Ciobanu has won the 2011 Bord Gáis Energy Cork City Marathon in a record time of 2:25:34, beating the official record he set last year for the marathon by 20 seconds.

MOLDOVAN Sergiu Ciobanu yesterday produced a personal best of 49 minutes 37 seconds to win the Ballycotton 10 mile road race in East Cork.

SERGIU CIOBANU (Clonliffe Harriers) battled his way through incessant wind and rain to claim victory in yesterday’s Bord Gáis Energy Cork City Marathon setting a course record at 2:25.54.

Today's Bord Gáis Energy Cork City Marathon was won by Moldovian Sergiu Ciobanu in a time of 2:25:54.

NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD Ethiopian runner Feyisa Lilesa finished within five seconds of the course record when winning the Lifestyle Sports adidas Dublin Marathon on his debut over the distance.

An Ethiopian man fought off competition from more than 12,000 other runners today to scoop gold in the Dublin City Marathon.