Sara Treacy claims top spot at St Patrick's Day 5km
Reigning national cross-country champion Sara Treacy once again showed some excellent form to win the Kleinwort Benson Investors St Patrick's Day 5km Festival women's road race in Dublin. The Moynalvey/Kilcloon AC runner completed the course in a time of 16 minutes, 42 seconds and crossed the line ahead of Lizzie Lee from Leevale AC who recorded a time of 16 minutes 51 seconds. Third was Lorraine Manning in 17 minutes 15 seconds. Over 1,300 runners took part in the event which was organised by the Metropolitan Harrier and St Brigid's Athletic Club. The entries included dedicated athletes as well as fun runners. Bohermeen AC's Darragh Rennicks once again demonstrated his talent when he comfortably took the individual honours at the Meath Five-Mile Road Championships in Kildalkey on St Patrick's Day to maintain a proud family tradition. The event attracted an entry of 127 who took to the roads around Ballinadrimna, Rathcormack and Frayne. Rennicks took command of the race early on and powered his way home to win in a time of 25 minutes 26 seconds 40 years after his father Colm won the same event also on St Patrick's Day in Oldcastle. Darragh Rennicks' display helped Bohermeen to take third place in the team event along with his team-mates Dermot Clarke, Damien Hilliard, Keith Murray, Dermot Farrelly and David O'Connell. In the women's event Sonya Reilly of Bohermeen AC continued her good form and was placed second in the ladies five-mile category race recording a personal best time for the distance by over a minute. Her performance helped Bohermeen to the team title for the distance by over a minute, the first time in 10 years the club won the title. The other team members were Linda Gunning, Marie Bowler, Cora Bennett and Claire Coyne. There was a strong representation from the Trim Athletic Club at Kildalkey and a number of them made the most of the fast, flat course to record new personal best times. There was a welcome return to competitive action by super vetern Pat Comey who ran 35 minutes, 3 seconds in the M60 grade to earn second place. Fellow vetearn David Hawcroft achieved third place in the M60 category with a time of 35 minutes, 49 seconds. The best Trim finisher was Dermot Leonard in 29 minutes 22 seconds while the next home was Don Mahon in 29 minutes 29 seconds.