Kerry native wins 5000m gold at New Zealand Track and Field Championships
Brigid Dennehy on her way to winning 5000m gold at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships in Wellington. Picture: YouTube
Kerry woman Brigid Dennehy won 5000m gold at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships in Wellington on Thursday.
Dennehy, originally from South Kerry, overtook Lisa Cross on the final lap to claim the title. Cross held a significant lead going into the last 400m but Dennehy powered back to overtake her in the final 250m
The 29-year-old took nearly 30 seconds off her personal best, finishing in 16:10.85. It's a time which puts her 54th on the all-time Irish list.
"Lisa is amazing, but I knew if I kept her in sight I could have the kick at the end," said Dennehy.
“I didn’t have such a good track season last year, but I’ve found doing a lot of easy running works for me. I haven’t done a hard session for about four weeks.
“I have been surprised (with my track season) big time. I was writing myself off as a track athlete. Once the season finishes I am training for Gold Coast Marathon but that doesn’t mean I am saying goodbye to the track.
“I watched my best friend and team-mate (Laura Nagel) win (the 5000m title) over the last couple of years and she is one of the athletes I look up to, so winning a title like she has is something I’m proud of.”
The North Harbour Bays Athletics club athlete moved to New Zealand in 2019 after six years in England. Last year, she won the inaugural New Zealand Road Mile title. While at home in Kerry over Christmas, Dennehy won the Farranfore Maine Valley AC 5k on St Stephen's Day.
She has been in superb form over recent months. On Sunday, she set a new 1500m personal best of 4:14.03 as she finished second at the Sir Graeme Douglas International in Auckland, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event.
Dennehy plans to run in the 1500m at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships this weekend.
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