Cork's Fearghal Curtin smashes Irish marathon record in South Korea

The Youghal native ran 2:07:54 to claim victory.

IN FORM: Fearghal Curtin who won the men's 10K race as part of the Cork City Marathon in June. Picture: David Creedon

Fearghal Curtin broke the Irish marathon record as he won the Gyeongju International Marathon in South Korea.

The Corkman ran 2:07:54 to claim victory, chopping a massive 1:42 off the record which Kilkenny's Peter Lynch had set at the Dusseldorf Marathon in April.

Curtin, who hails from Youghal, went into the race in what he felt was the best shape of his career following a few months training at altitude in Arizona under Jon Green.

“This week, it's realistic for me in Korea. It's a slightly hillier course, but I think it's possible on a good day,” he told the Irish Examiner about his hopes to break the Irish record.

“It's definitely the best shape I've ever been in, but my goal within the next three years is to get down to 2:05, 2:06, because that's Olympic standard.” 

Curtin also holds the Irish half marathon record. He broke that mark in Copenhagen in September. He plans to run the Singapore Marathon in December.