Jennings’ final kick edges O’Doherty to Mini-Marathon title

CAITRIONA JENNINGS, Sportsworld Running Club, Terenure, yesterday led home a field of over 40,000 in the Flora Women’s Mini-Marathon in Dublin.

It was a close finish and Jennings only broke clear of second-place finisher, Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisokane AC, in the final 300 metres. The pair had matched strides from the eight-kilometre mark after third-place finisher Aoife Talty of Raheny Shamrock AC dropped off the pace.

Talty is the daughter of former Dublin GAA football star Brian Talty.

Fourth place finisher, Cathy McCourt of North Belfast Harriers (36.15), is the daughter of former Irish Olympic boxer Jim McCourt who won bronze in the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Jennings crossed the finish line in 35 minutes 28 seconds, just three seconds clear of O’Doherty, with Talty third in 35.54.

Jennings and O’Doherty are members of the Marathon Mission Team — an initiative between Athletics Ireland and the National Lottery Dublin Marathon aimed at reviving the great tradition of Irish marathon running at the highest level.

Both athletes have their sights set on achieving an Olympic marathon qualifying standard for London 2012. This was the second win in a little over a week for Jennings who won the recent Donore Harriers 5km road race in the Phoenix Park.