Fionnuala McCormack a class apart

Fionnuala McCormack cruised to a facile win at the Spar Great Ireland Run in Dublin yesterday, the 31-year-old taking her first victory in the 10km race in 33:30 ahead of Deirdre Byrne and Maria McCambridge.

In a race devoid of any African elites — organisers instead choosing to invite a team of Commonwealth runners — McCormack proved a class apart, surging to the front in the second mile and soon disappearing out of her rivals’ sight.

McCormack started in conservative fashion, nestling on the shoulder of Maria McCambridge in the blustery conditions, but McCormack was all alone crossing the finish, 71 seconds ahead of Byrne (34:41), who fended off McCambridge to take second.