Fogarty and Donegan the winners as Tullamore 5k attracts huge entry

The 2024 edition of the Tullamore Harriers 5k was run off last Sunday morning and what a great day it was, with a hugely successful race.

This was the first round of the Healthy Offaly 5K series and it certainly set the scene for a great start to road racing in the county for 2024.

Just before 10am, John Cronin, President of Athletics Ireland, welcomed the athletes to start the race.

The race boasted an impressive line-up of 433 athletes, setting the stage for an exciting and competitive event.

Mick Fogarty of Ferbane AC emerged victorious, crossing the finish line with a time of 15:39, closely followed by Paul Mitchell of Tullamore Harriers in second place with a time of 15:45.

The battle for third place was intense, with Kevin Minnock of Tullamore Harriers narrowly edging out Andrew Nevin from Mullingar Harriers in a sprint finish, finishing with a time of 15:49.

On the women's side, Nadine Donegan clinched the victory in 16.38, improving her previous time by almost one minute from when she also won the race last year. The second lady was Amy O’Donoghue of Dundrum South Dublin AC in 16.56 and third was Niamh O’Connor (Tullamore Harriers) in 17.27.

Despite the cold breeze and soft rain, the atmosphere within the stadium was heartwarming, reflecting the spirit of the participants and spectators alike.

The event attracted a diverse array of athletes, not only from clubs within Offaly but also from other areas. It felt like a reunion for many, reconnecting with athletes not seen since the previous year's series.

Offaly Athletics congratulates Tullamore Harriers AC on the success of the event, to all the participants, and prize winners.

The event's success signalled a promising start to the series, establishing a high standard for the races that would follow.

This success was made possible by the dedicated support and assistance of numerous individuals. A heartfelt thank you is extended to each person who contributed their time and effort - from club officials to marshals, volunteers, friends, and family, everyone played a vital role, and their contributions were genuinely appreciated.

Special thanks are due to Conor and Amy from Pop Up Races for their prompt and efficient service, to Offaly Civil Defence for their professionalism, as well as to Offaly County Council and the Gardai for facilitating the road closures and ensuring the safety of the event.

Additionally, gratitude is extended to the residents along the race route and the surrounding area for their patience and cooperation. Most importantly, a big thank you goes out to the athletes and clubs for their support of the Tullamore Harriers AC 5K.

Round 2 is the Banagher AC 5k on Sunday, April 7 at 10am.

Winners - 1st place: Mick Fogarty (Ferbane AC) and Nadine Donegan (Tullamore Harriers AC). 2nd place: Paul Mitchell (Tullamore Harriers) and Amy O’Donoghue (DSD). 3rd place: Kevin Minnock (Tullamore Harriers) and Niamh O’Connor (Tullamore Harriers).

Age group winners

1st Junior – Adam Veighey (Naas AC) and Heather Murphy (St Michael’s AC).

1st O40 – Stephen Hunter (St Abban’s AC) and Maria Maher (Ballyskenach AC).

1st O45 – Paul Buckley (Ferbane AC) and Sarah Flanagan (Tullamore Harriers).

1st O50 – Brendan Donagher (Naomh Mhuire) and Carmel Murray (Birr AC).

1st O60 – Eddie Newman (Mullingar Harriers) and Mary Galvin (Tullamore Harriers).

1st O70 - Ger Woods (Banagher AC) and Eileen Kenny (Athlone AC).

*See this week's Offaly Independent for more photos.