Gary O’Hanlon celebrates after crossing the line in Tralee
Local athlete Gary O’Hanlon continued his sensational start to the year by clinching victory in the Kerry’s Eye Tralee International Marathon at the weekend.
The Kilkerley man, who runs on behalf of the Clonliffe Harriers club in Dublin, was first home in a time of 02:26:53 – almost 12 minutes ahead of the second placed finisher Julio Cesar Castro, who had a time of 02:38:34.
Gary O’Hanlon
Local runner Gary O’Hanlon won his sixth marathon of the year on Saturday when he led the field home in the Clonakilty Waterfront event in a time of 2:46.06.
O’Hanlon, who hails from Kilkerley but who runs for the Clonliffe Harriers club in Dublin, only took over the lead in the final three miles but finished comfortably clear of Raivis Zakis of West Waterford (2:47.59) and Rory Mooney (2:48.36).
The victory was even more impressive considering O’Hanlon had to overcome a niggling leg injury that had been bothering him for most of the previous week.
“It felt like a hamstring problem and I was hoping that I would be able to complete the distance on Saturday,” he told FIT Magazine.
“I had to run with a bit of caution but I am delighted to win what is a really brilliant event.”
This was O’Hanlon’s second successive victory in Clonakilty and comes just weeks after a sixth place finish in the Dublin Marathon that could have been better but for an incident which saw his phone stolen just hours before the race.
Gary O’Hanlon
Earlier this week Talk of the Town reported how local runner Gary O’Hanlon claimed an impressive sixth place finish in the Dublin Marathon.
The Kilkerley man, however, claims he was robbed of a “dream” top three finish by thieves, who took his phone and left him with a broken hand.
Gary, who runs for Clonliffe Harriers AC, had his hopes of winning Monday’s race shattered after thieves forced him into a dramatic undercover sting that left him “in bits” less than 24 hours before the start of the race.
The 39-year-old was working at the Dublin Marathon Expo in the RDS on Sunday when he realised his €500 Samsung phone had been stolen.
According to the Irish Mirror he text it from a friend’s mobile and got a reply demanding €200 if he ever wanted to see it again.
He told the thieves he would meet them before secretly alerting gardaí, who went in undercover to nab the gang.
One of the suspects was arrested near O’Connell Street but another three Gary’s phone into the Liffey, with the athlete ending up with a broken hand in the scuffle.
Gary still managed to run the race, smashing the 2 hours 20 minute barrier he was aiming for, finishing sixth and winning the over 35s section.
Gary told the Mirror: “Year I lost a €500 phone that was only a couple of months old but it cost me so much more than that; I lost loads of important numbers and pictures and I lost out on a top three finish.
“I was so shocked and p**sed off by what had happened and I just couldn’t think straight so I didn’t get a wink of sleep going into my biggest race of the year.
“I had been training flat out for the past three months and I feel I would have been third at worst but like most of the top guys I was hoping to win and I lost out on all that and it’s gutting.”
Gary said he forgot about the pain in his hand after five or six miles but was exhausted from a lack of sleep, with his head “all over the place.”
Source: Dublin Marathon: Phone thieves cost top athlete a top 3 finish and a broken hand (Irish Mirror)
Gary O’Hanlon
Kilkerley man Gary O’Hanlon was the sixth place finisher overall in yesterday’s Dublin Marathon.
Gary, who runs with the Clonliffe Harriers club in Dublin, finished in a time of 02:23:54, less than five minutes behind winner Sean Hehir, who finished in 02:18:19.
O’Hanlon’s performance was also enough to see him claim the men’s over 35 category.
A large number of other local runners also competed the racing including Gerard Fay of North East Runners, who completed his 100th marathon and Gerry O’Connell from the same club, who was the 100th finisher in a time of 02:48:57, which was enough for third place in the mens over 50 category. Well done to all.
Gary O’Hanlon
Kilkerley’s Gary O’Hanlon continued his preparations for the Dublin Marathon at the end of the month when he won the Athlone ¾ Marathon on Sunday.
The 39-year-old, who runs with the Clonliffe Harriers club in Dublin, finished a clear winner in a time of 1:47.42.
O’Hanlon, who is also making a name for himself as a coach and motivator, has enjoyed a number of memorable race wins this year but will face one of his biggest challenges to date when he participates in the Dublin Marathon on Monday October 28th.
Gary O’Hanlon after his win in the Limerick Marathon earlier this month
LOCAL athlete Gary O’Hanlon continued his phenomenal run of form at the weekend when he won the Newry City Marathon in a time of 2:34:16.
The Kilkerley man, who runs for the Clonliffe Harriers club in Dublin, had already won marathons earlier this month in Limerick and Kildare, as well as a 12.5k race in Carlingford.
He will now look to continue his phenomenal winning streak when he enters the Cork City Marathon this coming weekend.
Gary O’Hanlon crosses the finish line in the Limerick Run
There was celebrations for Kilkerley man Gary O’Hanlon this afternoon after he came home in first place in the Great Limerick Run.
Running the marathon, O’Hanlon – who runs with the Clonliffe Harriers club in Dublin – finished in a time of 02:29:45, almost six minutes clear of the second placed finisher.
O’Hanlon warmed up for the event by winning the Patsy Kelly 5k race in Dundalk last month and is expected to compete in next week’s Mint Run Dundalk 10k, having won the now defunct half marathon in each of the last two years.
Previously: Over 500 compete in Patsy Kelly 5k
Talk of the Town 