Ledwith survives big test

Fr Murphy athlete Andrew Ledwith produced a solid performance in difficult conditions to complete his first marathon in an exceptional time of two hours, 29 minutes, 58 seconds in Dublin on Monday afternoon. Ledwith, who is more renowned as an outstanding middle distance and cross-country runner, entered the race for the first time and claimed 29th place overall just 21 minutes, 25 seconds behind winner Geoffrey Ndungu from Kenya, who broke the course record. Ledwith's superb performance earned seventh leading Irish man and following on from his recording-breaking time of 50 minutes, 11 seconds in the Armagh 10-mile race just a couple of weeks earlier his current form suggests the Meath man is not far off the pace for making next summer's Olympic Games in London. Over 14,000 runners took to the streets for ther 32nd running of the Dublin City marathon which was screened live by RTE for the first time in 20 years. Ndungu wasted no time in decimating the field as he finished one minute, 17 seconds clear of fellow Kenyan Gilbert Kiptoo to claim the €15,000 winners cheque and a €5000 bonus for breaking the course record. Tallaght athlete Sean Connolly was the leading Irish man in two hours, 18 minutes, 51 seconds. Linda Byrne was first Irish woman in two hours, 36 minutes and 21 seconds and she achieved the qualifying standard for the London 2012 Olympics. There was also a notable performance form another first-timer in the big race when Ashbourne resident and long-time prison officer, James Hillen completed the challengeing task. Hillen promised himself a special 50th birthday gift just before becoming a grandfather - to run his first-ever marathon. And on Monday afternoon he crossed the finish line with almost 15,000 other runners and realised his cherished goal.