Efrem Gidey of Clonliffe Harriers and Fionnuala McCormack of Kilcoole landed the 2022 AXA Raheny 5 as the Ireland’s best road race made a welcome return.
The men’s saw a typical epic Raheny 5 battle as a group of nine runners made a break from the pack by the one mile.
The group whittled down to Gidey, Ryan Creech of Leevale and Ben Branagh of St. Malachy’s by the three mile mark in St. Anne’s Park. It was Creech who made the running has they headed for home with Gidey shadowing Creech as they past four miles.
As the runners exited St. Anne’s Park the Clonliffe man had opened up a gap which he held onto win in 24 minutes and 21 seconds some five second clear of Creech. Branagh took third place in 24:48.
Gidey European cross country junior bronze medallist in 2019 joins clubmates Noel Harvey and Noel Cullen as Clonliffe Harriers winners of the AXA Raheny 5.
The women’s race was a little more clear cut with two time European cross country champion Fionnuala McCormack made a winning return to the roads of Raheny to take her second AXA Raheny 5 title in 27:32.
Sorcha Ni Dhomhnaill of Donore Harriers was second in 27:48 with Letterkenny’s Nakita Burke taking third place in 28:27.
Over 3,000 athlete’s made their return to the roads of Raheny in the first mass participation event in the Republic of Ireland since the pandemic began in March 2020.
The juvenile races saw over 600 young people from 5-16 years of age take part in five races.
Our thanks to everyone who took part today, especially our sponsors AXA Insurance, An Gardai Siochan, The Order of Malta and Sports Medic Ireland and to the people of Raheny.
Full results available here
