Sheridan claims bronze at Dublin marathon
While 19-year-old Limerick athlete Ava Crean created her own piece of history by winning the national title at the Dublin Marathon on Sunday Bohermeen AC's Nichola Sheridan continued her rise through the ranks with a sensational third place finish.
Sheridan was the third Irish lady across the line and won the individual bronze medal in the National championships in the process.
Running in only her third marathon having run in Dublin last year where she posted a new club, Meath and personal best of 2:42.57 in 2024 when she was 14th lady overall and eighth Irish lady at the Valencia marathon in November where she improved her best time slightly to 2:42.3.
On Sunday in Dublin Sheridan ran the race of her life and was placed in the third Irish lady position from almost gun to tape, even when Meghan Ryan and Caitlyn Harvey came up on her shoulder she didn't panic and came home to clock 2:39.56, winning the National individual bronze medal behind the winner Ava Crean from Limerick and last year's winner Anne Marie McGlynn in second.
Sheridan's time was groundbreaking having broken the elusive 2:40 barrier and once again she set a new Meath and Bohermeen record as well as a new personal milestone.
Sheridan's performance in Dublin marks a very successful year racing on roads where she won both the Bohermeen and Dublin half marathons last March as well as numerous shorter road races throughout the year.
“I can’t believe it,” said Sheridan, a primary school teacher who has spent recent months training in Australia. “I committed to the time of 2:39 in my head and knew Ryan Murphy was going for that, so I kind of snuck in with him and Caitlyn Harvey. We worked as a pack. It was tough in parts with the wind, especially the last two kilometres, but I had loads of support the whole way around.”
Sheridan admitted she drew on the home crowd and her family for strength in the closing stages.
“I knew my family were at the end, so in the last 5km I kept thinking, ‘I’ve run so well up to now, I can’t let them see me struggling.’ The crowd just got me home at the end. I can’t believe I got third after Anne-Marie and Ava, they’re phenomenal runners. I’ve always looked up to Anne-Marie, and Ava’s just burst onto the scene. I’m so proud of myself.”
Her coach and physio also played a key role in keeping her mentally strong.
“My coach David Carrie told me last night I was well able for 2:39, and I had that in my head the whole time. My physio Vinny said ‘be tough’, so I wrote that on my hand and kept repeating it. The miles were high, but I told myself my legs were fresh — it’s all in your head.”
Having spent the past few months in Sydney with her boyfriend, Sheridan credited her training environment, and the support of her training partner Grace Lynch for helping her reach a new level.
“I’ve been training with Grace Lynch pretty much every day in Sydney. Her words of wisdom worked, believe in yourself and enjoy it as much as you can. I didn’t go back to teaching in September, so having that rest and focus really made a difference.”
Sheridan returns to Australia in three weeks, and she’ll be taking the pride of a national podium finish at the Irish Life Dublin Marathon with her.
Bohermeen AC also had many more athletes taking part with John Duffy (3:01.45), Brendan English (3:03.08), John Carroll (3:24.14), Tony Walsh (3:31.58), Darren Laird (3:33.23), Bobby Tallon (3:41.15), Alan Ryan (3:48.43), Shauna Murray (3:59.15), Stephen Browne (4:00.49), Olaf Dennison (4:23.26) and David Toner (5:44.45).