Ciobanu cruises home in record time
The Moldovan, who came to Ireland five years ago had just over four minutes to spare from his nearest rival, Galway international, Paul McNamara (Athenry AC), after the pair had fought it out for the first half of the race.
The inclement conditions failed to dampen the spirits of the 10,000 participants who assembled in Patrick Street for the start and hundreds of supporters thronged the changeover points to cheer on the relay runners.
Ciobanu, who won the Irish national marathon title in Dublin in October, broke clear of McNamara at the half way stage to charge for home on his own. He had mixed feelings about the conditions. He said: “There was a lot of wind and rain and that made it difficult. But am I used to running in the rain and I think the weather was a little bit better for me than the heat.”
He recounted his strategy: “Myself and Paul McNamara got away early. We stayed together until close to half way and then I broke clear. The last three or four miles were difficult because I had the wind in my face and I could not push as hard as I would have liked. But I am happy to have the course record under my belt.
“My aim now is for to do Dublin again. I may run the 10,000m at the national track and field championships in Santry. I came second last year and I would like to win it this year.”
McNamara admitted that he struggled on his own after Ciobanu broke away. He held on for second place – his third marathon finish – in 2:30:15.
“Around half way he (Ciobanu) pulled clear and when he did I started to struggle. At that stage I wasn’t even sure I’d get home but I got a lot of support and I kept going. It was very hard. The course is much tougher than I thought – it was very, very windy out there. I struggled for about 10 miles.”
The happiest man around was third-placed Colin Merritt (2:33.37). A member of the Defence Forces based at Collins Barracks he finished second to Michael Herlihy last year when he suffered in the heat.
“It was tough coming in the Straight road but I was a group of four and we worked really well together. I felt a lot stronger than I did last year. I started getting faster from 19 (miles) on and last year I died a death at 18 with the heat. We worked together and took turns in the wind along the walkway.”
Cathal O’Connell (St. Finbarr’s) has never been outside the top six in Cork and he finished fifth yesterday in what his 40th marathon – he ran 3:34 in Rotterdam just six weeks ago and 3:34.23 yesterday.
Lucy Brennan (Sligo), one of Ireland’s most consistent women marathon runners, returned to Cork to win the women’s title for the third successive time in 2:54.41.
But she admitted that of the 20 marathons she has won this was her toughest.
“I just found it really tough out there today – the wind more than the rain,” she said. “The Passage Walkway, around Blackrock and Mahon was really tough. I have run it many times when in Cork at weekends but it has never been as tough as this. The wind was coming in from the Estuary and at one stage it blew me off the path.”
Angela McCann (Clonmel) finished second (2:59:18) for the second successive year and said it was a bit easier this time around.
“I had better training done and I didn’t suffer as much,” she said. “This is my fourth marathon – Dublin twice – I only started racing three or four years ago. I went back to College as a mature student and I have just finished my Masters at WIT.”
Mary O’Leary (FC Perlack) who hails from Castletownroche and lives in Munich returned to Cork for the fourth time and her 15th marathon in all and again finished third in 3:01:20.
“The wind was the problem but I had a great run,” she said. “The rain is OK but the wind is the killer especially when you are running out there on your own as I was.”
Mary Sweeney, one of Cork’s best known athletes who represented Ireland at the world cross-country championships in Dusseldorf as a 17-year-old, celebrated her 50th birthday in fifth place.
The wheelchair section was won by Daryl Erwin (Ballymena Runners Antrim) in 3:11.11.
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