Fab four grab 2nd place in Armagh 5k

The Clonliffe senior men put in magnificent performances in the Brooks Armagh international 5k road race tonight. The race drew one of the deepest 5K fields assembled with an unbelievable 113 athlete running sub 15 minutes.

The men’s team were in PB form with three of the four recording new pb’s. The team was let home in 30th place by Colm Rooney who recorded a time of 14.23, only one second off his 12-year-old PB. Next in was Ian Guiden in a new PB of 14.29 in 44th position, Cathal Doyle also a PB in 48th place of 14.30 and in 60th place Sean O’Leary in a PB of 14.37. With a combined time of 57.44 the Clonliffe  team placed second behind Leeds City AC 56.35 and ahead of Liverpool Harriers 58.03. David Flynn, in heavy marathon training, racing on the Irish international team tied with Colm in 30th place with the same time of 14.23!

The race is a spectacular event drawing a top international field, the criteria for qualification for the men’s race is that all athletes must have run 16 minutes. The course itself is a 1k loop around the mall in the centre of Armagh. The sheer speed of the race must be seen to be believed. Tonight’s race was won in a new course record of 13.43 by Finland’s Topi Raitanen and featured many international athletes including athletes who have competed in the 5000 at last year’s  Morton Games Jonny Mellor and Philip Sessman. A really great event. Highly recommended!