Byrne secures London Olympic time

Linda Byrne looks set for the London 2012 Olympic Games after securing the qualifying time in her debut marathon in Dublin.

Byrne ran a sensibly paced race and only found the going really tough in the final six miles but finished the gruelling race in a time of 2:36.21, which was well inside the standard of 2:37.

Last year Byrne ran seventeen miles of the Dublin Marathon, to get a feel for the event, but by year end illness forced her to take a lengthy break from training.

“I had a low blood count and some stomach problems and it was only last May that I got back into full training for the marathon,” Byrne said.

The DSD runner, who is a graduate of Dublin City University, had shown a lot of promise through Junior and Under-23 ranks, but her career took a dip after that.

“I lost a bit of confidence for a while, but I have had great support from my family and friends and also my coach, Enda Fitzpatrick” she said.

“I have also found Marathon Mission, the support plan set up by the Dublin Marathon and Athletics Ireland, to have been of great assistance.”

She added: “The crowd support along the marathon route was brilliant and it was only after 20 miles that I began to really feel the pressure."

Maria McCambridge of Letterkenny AC, who was considered favourite to take the national title, struggled in the second half of the race and took the silver medal in 2:40.24, well outside her best. Gladys Ganiel (North Belfast AC) took the bronze medal in 2:42.43.

Helalia Johannes from Nambia made it fourth time lucky in Dublin when she coasted to a comfortable victory in 2:30.35. Emily Rotich of Kenya was second in 2:32.10 and Radiya Adilo of Ethiopia was third in 2:32.22.

Sean Connolly won the Woodie’s DIY National title in 2:18.52 from defending champion, Sergiu Ciobanu of Clonliffe Harriers, 2:20.56 and Alan O’Shea (Bantry AC) was third in 2:23.22.

It was a bittersweet day for Connolly who had his sights set on achieving an Olympic A marathon qualifying standard.

He said: “It is great to win the national title but I knew as early as four miles today that things were not going well.

“I had planned to get some pacing help up to half way, but even at four miles the pace was off and I my legs were feeling heavy” he said. It was blustery and a bit humid too early on in the race and things never really flowed for me.”

Connolly will now set his sights on a Spring marathon as he has until April to get an A qualifying standard of 2:15.

He added: “I will have a better idea by the Spring of how other Irish athletes like Martin Fagan and Alistair Cragg may have run.

“Mark Kenneally has already run inside the standard so I will know what I have to beat.”