Guest Post: SEAN TOBIN SETS NEW IRISH BEST FOR FOUR MILES... by John Walshe

At the Clonmel 4 mile race on St.Stephen's Day, Irish international Sean Tobin set a new national record of 17 mins 45s for a 4 mile race. In this guest post, John Walshe puts the performance into context.

SEAN TOBIN SETS NEW IRISH BEST FOR FOUR MILES... by John Walshe

There was a world-class performance from Clonmel’s Sean Tobin at his own club’s annual MSD four-mile race held in the town on St Stephen’s as the 25-year-old knocked 49 seconds off of his already impressive course record of 18:34 when crossing the line in a time of 17:45.

Tobin finished all of one minute and 20 seconds ahead of Thomas Hayes of Kilkenny City Harriers with Kevin Moore of Dundrum – two top runners in their own right - taking third spot in 19:37.

The previous best time by an Irish athlete over four miles was set by Noel Berkeley when he ran 17:59 back in June 1992 at the Steamboat Classic in Illinois.

That race, regarded as the top event in the world over the rarely-run distance of four miles, has been on the go for over 45 years. Interestingly, the UK best of 17:48 by twice Olympic marathon fourth placer Jon Brown (three seconds slower than Tobin) was also set there in 1997.

When Berkeley ran that 17:59 in 1992 it came a month after he recorded 27:55.82 over 10,000m which is still ranked as the fifth fastest on the Irish all-time list. Later that summer he would represent Ireland over 10,000m at the Barcelona Olympics.

Tobin, with personal bests ranging from 3:57.00 for one mile (Cork City Sports 2017) and 48:34 for 10 miles (Cobh 2019) is no doubt an exciting prospect for the forthcoming track season.

His personal best of 13:56.22 for 5000m from last June is just one of the events that is certainly due for revision.  

Links...
a) Link to results & photos of the 2019 Clonmel 4 mile
b) Link to a list of John Walshe's guest articles