Fagan content with third as Spain’s Espana reigns
Over 10,000 adults signed up for the event which raised more than €500,000 for charity while more than 1,000 took part in the junior race to generate a day-long atmosphere of excitement.
But it was the weather – temperatures climbing to 21C that added the finishing touches and left Espana singing the praises of the Irish climate.
“I raced in the north of Spain last week and it was raining and I don’t like those conditions so I did not enjoy it, but (today) I really enjoyed it and I felt really good,” he said after finishing the 10k race in a smart time of 29 minutes 26 seconds.
His surge over the final kilometre left Jussi Utriainen, the Finnish marathon and half marathon champion, back in second place in 29:31 with defending champion Fagan third in 29:35 and the nine-time European cross-country champion, Sergey Lebid (Ukraine) fourth in 29:53.
“I like the up-hills and the downhills,” Espana said. “I did not feel good at the beginning. The first up-hill Martin Fagan pushed very hard and I felt bad. A kilometre later I felt better and after that it was better and better. Two kilometres from the finish I felt really good and with a kilometre to go I pushed but then I suffered a lot for the last 500 metres.
“I am very happy with that because I rested after the indoor season and I am just training for three weeks. My target is the 5,000m at the world championships in Daegu in September.”
Fagan’s early pressure split the elite men’s field and took the 2009 champion, Rui Silva (Portugal), Andrew Carlson (USA), Sergiy Lebid and another Spaniard, Juan Carlos de la Ossa, three times European cross-country runner-up, clear with the Irish cross-country champion, Joe Sweeney.
In the end the Mullingar man was happy with his performance coming just a month after changing coaches.
“I am finding my feet again and just enjoying it and I really enjoyed it out there (today),” Fagan said.
“After 5k I felt good. I probably should have gone a little bit earlier but I don’t have that speed right now. I’m just back training four weeks. I’m not where I’d want to be but I’m really enjoying it. Even though I ran faster last year I feel like a different person.”
Another happy man crossing the line was Cork race walker, Robert Heffernan, who finished sixth in Rio Maior on Saturday in 81:50 and just made it back in time to participate.
“My last kilometre there was 3:54 and my last 5k was faster than (yesterday),” he said. “I was very strong. I am in great nick. I enjoyed it. I did the second 10k hard.”
Fans were hoping for big runs from Fionnuala Britton and Mary Cullen in the women’s race but they were battling it out with each other way behind when Britain’s newest sensation, Charlotte Purdue. She launched her winning attack (32:42) with such notables as the former world 10,000m record holder, Berhane Adere (Ethiopia).
“My coach told me not to push on until the last stages of the race so I just followed his instructions,” said 19-year-old Purdue.
Cullen, who had to withdraw from the European indoor championships with viral gastro enteritis, admitted she had to be happy with her performance (eighth in 34:10).
“I took two weeks off after Paris so I am just back training for seven days,” she said. “I was with them (the leaders) until about 5k but when the hill came it showed that I did not have enough running done. It fitted the purpose of a high temp run so I got that out of it.
“I was gutted after Paris. I thought I was in great shape to medal again there. I probably won’t run again until the European Cup 10k on June 4. I need to get some work done.”
Fionnuala Britton, who finished seventh in 34:10, was not happy with her performance either.
“It was hot but that was not my excuse. I have run all my best races in the heat. I gave myself every chance early on but yet I ended up doing what I always do and got gapped.
“I find that I struggle more on the downhill than uphill. I let them go on the first downhill and then I had to sprint to get back on. The hill was so long – from about 3,5k to 4.5k and I was already dropped by 5k.”
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