Stroll in the park as Mark Christie doubles up

Mark Christie won the Great Ireland Run in 29:30 in the Phoenix Park yesterday and also secured the national 10km title.

Fionnuala McCormack (Kilcoole) was a late withdrawal overnight due to a lingering hip injury which left England’s Gemma Steel in to take victory in the women’s race in 34:15.

The Wicklow woman was the headline act for the event but it didn’t knock the wind out of the sails with thousands of runners in the park and an Irish team which still had some depth in the international match-up against England.