The severe weather conditions did not deter the thousands of athletes from participating in two marathon events in Dublin and Cork today.

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.

Kelly Proper bagged long-jump gold and her 17th national indoor title at day one of the Glo Health National Indoor Championships.

ATHLETICS: Fionnuala Britton opens her 2015 competition schedule at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country as part of Team Europe in Holyrood Park today.

Boxer Katie Taylor has been crowned The Irish Times/Irish Sports Council ‘Sportswoman of the Year 2014’ for her exceptional achievement in winning a record breaking sixth European title and her fifth consecutive world title.

Alan Brogan believes the recent trend of retirements by players in their early 30s and younger will continue, but the former Footballer of the Year has yet to decide if he will add to the exodus.

Alan Brogan believes the recent trend of retirements by players in their early 30s and younger will continue, but the former Footballer of the Year has yet to decide if he will add to the exodus.

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

Fionnuala Britton has made a shock decision to run the European championship marathon later this month.

Leevale AC’s men and DSD women proved themselves to be the best in the country when they emerged victorious at the GloHealth National League Final at Tullamore Harriers Stadium yesterday.

Fionnuala Britton sprinted to the Women’s 5,000 metre title at today’s Glo Health Senior track and field championships in Santry stadium.

An engineer who turned her skills to designing sports shorts for women in need of extra support, especially after having a baby, has secured a €90,000 investment and the support of two of the ‘dragons’ on Dragons’ Den.

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.

By Will Downing

The Africans might have been missing, but the atmosphere wasn’t lacking as Irish runners clinched a double victory in the Airtricity Dublin Marathon for the first time in 20 years.

Sean Hehir wore out two things in the run-up to his Dublin Marathon victory — his shoes and his mammy.

Seán Hehir and Maria McCambridge capitalised on the domestic entry at the 34th Airtricity Dublin Marathon yesterday to become the first joint Irish winners since 1993 in two exciting duels that ebbed and flowed as record numbers took to the streets for the classic distance.

Sean Hehir became the first Irish winner of the Dublin marathon in 20 years this morning.

Marathon legend Dick Hooper believes there is “a golden opportunity” for domestic winners of Monday’s Airtricity Dublin Marathon with no elite foreign entries toeing the line due to budgetary constraints.

Usain Bolt crowned himself the new Czar of Russia as he lit up the World Track and Field Championships in Moscow last night by winning the 100m in 9.77 while Brian Gregan brought some welcome Irish cheer qualifying for the 400m semi-finals.

A miserable opening day for Ireland at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow saw the three in action on the track miss out of qualifying for their respective semi-finals, while Irish interest in the women’s marathon ended after eight kilometres.

Edna Kiplagat made history in becoming the first athlete to win back-to-back women’s marathon world titles in retaining her crown in Moscow this afternoon.

Mark English and Paul Robinson both bowed out of the 800m in the first round heats on the opening morning of the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow.

Mark English and Paul Robinson start a new era for Irish middle-distance running this morning in the heats of the 800m on the opening day of the World Track and Field Championships in Moscow.

Athletics Ireland have announced a hugely inexperienced squad for the upcoming World Championships.

Kelly Proper was the star of the Woodies DIY national track and field championships taking three gold medals in Santry Stadium.

It was a case of third time lucky for a delighted Siobhan O’Doherty as she led home over 40,000 women at the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin in 34:20 having finished second the previous two years.

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

Geoffrey Ndungu of Kenya retained his Dublin Marathon title yesterday, finishing in 2:11.09, well outside last year’s course record time of 2:08.33.

Maria McCambridge had a point to prove.

Kenya’s Geofrey Ndungu successfully reclaimed his Dublin Marathon title in a time of 2:11:09 this afternoon.

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

It is a strange individual that enjoys the torture of marathon running.

With several Olympians expected to take to the track, the women’s 400m race is shaping up to be the main attraction at the 61st Cork City International Sports at Cork Institute of Technology on Tuesday evening.

Strong wind at Santry Stadium played a telling factor on Day One of the 2012 Woodies DIY National Track and Field Championships today.

The Woodie’s DIY National Championships take place at the Morton Stadium, Santry this weekend.

Irish Sports Council chief executive, John Treacy believes Irish athletes seeking Olympic success have a better support structure than ever before.

Maria McCambridge will not appeal the decision which yesterday destroyed her Olympic marathon dream.

Colin Griffin has boosted the Irish track and field team for the Olympic Games to 18 after sailing past the Olympic A standard to qualify for the 50k race walking at London 2012.

Joanne Cuddihy will compete in the Olympic 400 metres, having become the 17th Irish track and field athlete to qualify for London 2012.

Derek Burnett has become the 40th Irish competitor to qualify for the London Olympics, but that is to be reduced by one as one of Ireland's qualified marathon runners has to be dropped.

Caitriona Jennings has admitted missing out on the Olympics having achieved the necessary qualifying time would be “devastating”.