Mark Christie Landed the 2017 AXA Raheny 5 with a flying finish to hold off home town favourite Mick Clohisey for victory.
Christie landed his third victory in the home of Irish athletics and moves him to joint second on the winners list with Gerry Curtis as a three time Raheny 5 winner.
Clonliffe Harriers Noel Cullen is the record winner of the Raheny 5 having won the race on five occasions.
The race its self was a tactical battle in a wet Raheny with Clohisey and Christie battling with St. Malachy’s Ben Branagh until just before the three mile mark.
Clohisey held a slight lead as the two exited St. Anne’s Park onto Watermill Drive before Christie made a final surge for home on the bottom of the back straight eventually winning in 23 minutes 45 seconds.
Clohisey took second place in 23:47 with Brannagh third in 24 minutes 16 seconds.
The women’s race was a much clearer affair with Donore Harriers Barbara Cleary winning out in 27 minutes 33 seconds, well clear of former winner Catherina McKiernan.
Cleary a former winner of the Women’s Mini Marathon becomes the first Donore Harries female athlete to win the AXA Raheny 5.
Catherina McKiernan winner in 2004 took second place in 28 minutes 11 seconds with Dundrum South Dublin’s Sarah MacMahon third in 28:15.
Over 3,300 runners completed the 33rd AXA Raheny 5 as the race continues to break all records as just shy of 4,000 runners and walkers entered the race.
Borrisokane’s Cillian Dunne showed total quality to the win the wheelchair race in a swift 22 minutes 50 seconds.
Shauna Bocquest of Craughwell A.C was the women’s wheelchair winner in 24 minutes 18 seconds as a record total of eight wheelchair competitors took part.
The traditional curtain raiser of the AXA Raheny 5 Juvenile races saw 894 compete over four races.
Results of the AXA Raheny 5 Road Race, Wheelchair race and Walk are available here
