Cork's Finn claims Dublin Half Marathon title as Mayo's Armstrong ...
Ballina AC's Hugh Armstrong became the first man to win all four races in the Irish Life Dublin Race Series in one year. He claimed the Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon title in the Phoenix Park on Sunday.
Last weekend, the won the national half marathon title, running 1:04.35 in Charleville.
The Knockmore native finished in 1:06:25 on Sunday to complete the Dublin Race Series set. He had already won the Corkagh 5 Mile, the Fingal 10k, and the Frank Duffy 10 Mile.
Armstrong, who is based in Dublin and coached by Feidhlim Kelly, broke clear from Dunboyne AC’s Peter Somba at the halfway point and finished strongly. Somba, a previous winner of the race, took second in 1:09:08 with Swords man David Glynn crossing the line in 1:09:42 to claim third.
"I’ve won all the races in the series this year," said the 30-year-old Armstrong.
"They’re all very good races, very well organised with lots of people in them. I’ve been planning to run the Irish Life Dublin Marathon since earlier this year, so I thought the series was good prep for that."
Two-time Olympian Michelle Finn, who is also coached by Kelly, was a dominant winner of the women’s race, breaking the course record as she clocked a time of 1:15:45.
The Cork woman finished ahead of Road Runners AC’s Caitlyn Harvey (1:17:55) and Raheny Shamrock AC’s Fiona Stack (1:20:24), both of whom made the podium of this race once again.
“I’m feeling grand now that I’ve stopped. I’m happy to get the win. It was a good effort, good run and a nice race,” said Leevale AC runner Finn.
2024 Dublin Half Marathon results
Men: 1 H Armstrong (Ballina AC) 1:06:25, 2 P Somba (Dunboyne AC) 1:09:08, 3 D Glynn (Swords) 1:09:42
Women: 1 M Finn (Leevale AC) 1:15:45, 2 C Harvey (Annadale Striders) 1:17:55, 3 F Stack (Raheny Shamrock AC) 1:20:24
