FOR THE FIRST time in twenty years an Irishman has won the Dublin City Marathon.
Dublin based primary school teacher Sean Hehir — originally from Clare — became the first Irishman since John Tracey in 1993 to win in Dublin after coming home in a time of 2:18:19, 53 seconds ahead of fellow Irish runner Joe Sweeney who was running his first marathon.
Moldovan Sergio Ciobanu, who runs with Clonliffe Harriers, was third in 2:22:02.
Maria McCambridge justified her favourite tag in the women’s race, coming home first in a time of 2:38:51 after a fantastic tussle with Cork’s Claire McCarthy-Gibbons (2:39:27), while Tullamore’s Pauline Curley finished third in 2:42:58.
Maria McCambridge shows her delight at winning.
Image: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Paul Hannan won his fourth wheelchair title in 2:34:48, nearly three minutes ahead of Jim Corbett (2:37;27) while Patrick Monahan (2:38:54) was third.
Hopes had been high that Ireland would produce the winner in both races after the lack of a headline sponsor earlier in the year meant the usual invitations were not issued to the East African runners who have dominated the event in recent years.
A record 14,500 runners took to the start line this morning with road closures expected to stay in place throughout the day as the later finishers come home.
