Cork runner Lizzie Lee wins national 5k title - 20th May 2023

The Irish Runner 5K was held in the Phoenix Park in Dublin on Saturday 20th May 2023 with 1174 crossing the finish line. It also doubled up as the National 5k Championships.

The first woman was Lizzie Lee from Leevale AC in Cork in a time of 16m 47s.

1 Lizzie LEE 00:16:46 00:16:47 189 F Nat F40 Leevale A.C. 
2 Ellen MORAN 00:16:50 00:16:53 377 F Nat FS Galway City Harriers A.C.
3 Clíona MURPHY 00:16:57 00:16:58 385 F Nat FS Dublin City Harriers A.C.

Full results HERE

National records confirmed for Lizzie Lee & Angela McCann for 10k race

The Coillte 10k race in Dundrum, Tipperary is one of the fastest 10k courses in the country and always attracts a high quality field. At the 2021 race, Lizzie Lee and Angela McCann set new national F40 and F50 age records for the 10k distance.

After the race, Dundrum AC submitted the details to Athletics Ireland but it seems to have got missed with all of the pandemic stuff going on. The club resubmitted the information in 2022 and it has been verified this time! 

John Moore of Dundrum AC has just sent on the following report...

National Records confirmed for Coillte 10k course in Dundrum ...by John Moore

Athletics Ireland have confirmed that two national records have been set over the long-standing road race circuit in Dundrum. The two records were set at the annual Coillte 10k road race on the 7 th

July 2021 a race which has been ran every year since 1986.

The first record was set by Cork athlete Lizzie Lee from the Leevale club who set a new national record for the over 40 women’s category when winning the race in a cracking time of 33 minutes 45 seconds for the 10,000 metre (6.2 mile) distance.

The second record was set by Tipperary athlete Angela McCann from the Clonmel club who set a new national record for the over 50 women’s category in a super time of 37 minutes 21 seconds for the 10,000 metre (6.2 mile) distance.

This is a huge plus for the course when you consider there are 32 Irish master women records listed from 5k up to 100k and 10 of the 32 have been set outside the island of Ireland. The course must be specially measured to meet the Athletics Ireland and International Association of Athletics Federations standards. This is done using the Jones Counter/Bicycle method of measurement.

The course has been measured by three different qualified measurers since the measurement system came into place and it was first measured in 1996. Brendan O’Connell Killenaule was the first measurer, and he was followed by Joe Aherne Cappamore with the last measurement carried out by Billy Purcell and Jim Ryan from Two Mile Borris. The club would like to thank all measurers for their help over the years but especially Billy and Jim whose detailed photographic evidence and paperwork streamlined the ratification process.

The timing of the race is also important as this must tie in with the distance and here the club would like to thank Niall O’Sullivan of Premier Timing Systems from Clonmel for his help with having all in order. Indeed, Niall has been timing our races for many years now which we greatly appreciate.

 A good road surface is also important to help athletes get fast times and here the club would like to thank Tipperary County Council and their local Area Supervisor Pat Fitzelle for his help over the years in maintaining the circuit. Dundrum Athletic Club would also like to thank Tipperary County Council for a huge road upgrade on a one-kilometre stretch of the circuit just before covid lockdown. To also thank the local councillors especially Declan Burgess for their help in getting this crucial work completed.

Sponsorship of the race in which the records were set is also important to help keep the event going year after year and to this effect the club would like to thank all the local businesses for their continued support. To the semi state company Coillte a special thanks for been the main sponsor of the race since 2003.

The road race circuit is very popular consisting of two laps and an ideal circuit for spectators to watch a race at different locations by walking less than 100 metres. It is a regular venue for County and Munster championship races and indeed has held an All-Ireland championship in the past. It is also the venue for the clubs annual BK5K road race every May.

Race Director John Moore who has been involved in organising the Coillte 10k race since the first race in 1986 would like to thank all the volunteers who give of their time every year to help at the event. Also, to congratulate the two record holders Lizzie and Angela and here looking forward to some great racing over the iconic circuit in the years to come.

John Moore - Dundrum AC

Cork runners take top spots at the Run Galway Bay 10k - Sat 1st Oct 2022

Last weekend was a busy weekend for Cork runners in various road races. On Saturday the 1st of October 2022, Cork runners Lizzie Lee and Alfie Davis of Leevale AC were the first woman and man over the finish line in the Run Galway Bay 10k.

First 3-women (L-R)... Ellen Moran 2nd, Lizzie Lee 1st & Edel Gaffney 3rd

Top 6-finishers...

1 4001 Lizzie Lee F Over40 0:35:25 0:35:25
2 4198 Alfie Davis M Over40 0:35:49 0:35:49
3 5677 Thomas Paillald M Senior 0:36:05 0:36:05
4 5520 Ellen Moran F Senior 0:36:30 0:36:29
5 4496 Gary Egan M Over40 0:36:33 0:36:34
6 4043 Edel Gaffney F Senior 0:36:35 0:36:35
7 5172 Ed Maher M Over40 0:36:43 0:36:43

Full results HERE

This was a big race with a total of 1190 runners crossing the finish line.

What makes it unusual was that not only was Lizzie Lee the first woman but she finished well ahead of all the men as well!

Alfie Davis was the first man home and second overall. Alfie was 16-seconds clear of the second place man.

First 3-men (L-R)... Ed Maher 3rd, Alfie Davis 1st & Thomas Paillald 2nd

Cork runner Lizzie Lee wins the Streets of Kilkenny 5k - Thurs 14th Apr 2022

Lizzie Lee winning the 2022 Streets of Kilkenny 5k. Photo: Gearóid Ó Laoi

The Streets of Kilkenny 5k is regarded as one of the premier 5k road races in Ireland and always attracts a lot of fast runners. The 2022 race was held on Thursday the 14th of April with a lot of runners from Cork making the trip to the marble city.

Lizzie Lee of Leevale AC was in flying form when she took the women's title in a time of 16m 31s.

There were a total of 713 finishers with the first 14 men going under 15 minutes.

Top 10 men & women...

1174 1 Eoin Everard Kilkenny City Harriers A.C. M 0:14:11 0:14:11  
1223 2 Michael Harty East Cork A.C. M40 0:14:14 0:14:14  
846 3 William Maunsell M 0:14:17 0:14:17  
1323 4 Brian Maher Kilkenny City Harriers A.C. M40 0:14:18 0:14:18  
1166 5 Sean Doyle North Cork A.C. M 0:14:25 0:14:25  
1591 6 Kieran Kelly Raheny Shamrock A.C. M 0:14:30 0:14:30  
1222 7 Liam Harris Togher A.C. M 0:14:38 0:14:38  
1428 8 Tim O Donoghue East Cork A.C. M 0:14:39 0:14:39  
831 9 John Shine Leevale A.C. M 0:14:40 0:14:40  
1371 10 Paul Moloney Mallow A.C. M40 0:14:41 0:14:41  
2546 68 Lizzie Lee Leevale A.C. F40 0:16:31 0:16:31  
1343 74 Maria Mc Cambridge Dundrum South Dublin A.C. F45 0:16:46 0:16:46  
1102 77 Jessica Coyne Leevale A.C. F 0:16:51 0:16:51  
1589 83 Dympns Ryan Dundrum AC F40 0:16:59 0:17:00  
1293 98 Michelle Kenny Leevale A.C. F40 0:17:27 0:17:27  
2126 99 Ava Costello Trim A.C. Jnr F 0:17:26 0:17:27  
1133 100 Lauren Dermody Castlecomer A.C. F 0:17:28 0:17:28  
2123 104 Carol Finn Leevale A.C. F 0:17:29 0:17:29  
1426 107 Siobhan O Doherty Borrisokane A.C. F 0:17:37 0:17:37  
2128 118 Amy Moran Dundrum South Dublin A.C. F 0:17:49 0:17:50  

Full results are on the Pop Up Races website

Michael Harty of East Cork AC was the second man home and set a new national M40 record in the  process.

New Irish M40 5km record for Michael Harty of East Cork. Photo: Gearóid Ó Laoi

John Walshe writes... "Michael Harty's time of 14:14 is a new Irish M40 5km record, the previous best was 14:21 by Brian Maher. Brian - 45 in September - was also inside the own record last night with his time of 14:18."

Cork runner Lizzie Lee wins 5k race in the Phoenix Park in 16m 15s

The 30th Annual Jingle Bells 5k organised by Donore Harriers AC was held on Saturday 4th December 2021 in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. The first woman home was Lizzie Lee from Cork in an impressive time of 16 mins 15 secs.

As you can see from the photo above, Lizzie was pushed all of the way to the line by Sorcha Ní Dhómnaill of the host club Donore Harriers.

There were 1044 finishers in the race and it was a fast field with 346 finishing under 20 minutes. 

A total of 60 women went under 20 minutes which is in marked contrast to a lot of other 5k races where the field is much slower.

5k
1 John Travers Donore Harriers M 0:14:22  
2 Conor Maguire Monaghan Phoenix A.C. M 0:14:26  
3 Mitchell Byrne Rathfarnham W.S.A.F. A.C. 0:14:28 0:14:28
1 Lizzie Lee Leevale AC F40 0:16:15  
2 Sorcha Ní Dhómhnaill Donore Harriers F 0:16:19  
3 Catherina Mullen Metro/St. Brigid's A.C. F 0:16:31

Full results... https://www.popupraces.ie/race/jingle-bells-5k-2021/

Cork runner Lizzie Lee wins the Streets of Galway 8k - 24th Oct 2021

One of the biggest road races in the country over the weekend was the Streets of Galway 8k with a whopping 989 finishers. 

Cork's own Lizzie Lee of Leevale AC was the first woman home in a time of 26m 57s.

Top 5 men & women...
 1 332 Devane Donal M Senior Men Ennis track 0:24:21 0:24:21
2 450 Shanahan Niall M Senior Men An bru 0:24:24 0:24:24
3 1032 Fitzgerald William M Senior Men Craughwell ac 0:24:31 0:24:31
4 1089 Fallon Keith M Senior Men Gch 0:25:05 0:25:05
5 898 McCauley Conor M Senior Men Leevale ac 0:25:27 0:25:27
11 2 Lee Lizzy F Senior Women 0:26:57 0:26:57
31 393 Casey Regina F F40 Gch 0:29:25 0:29:24
38 200 Moran Ellen F Senior Women Galway city harriers 0:29:55 0:29:50
45 1164 Finn Carol F Senior Women Leevale 0:30:53 0:30:51
52 1205 Smyth Kate F Senior Women 0:31:15 0:31:13

As can be seen from the list above, Carol Finn of Leevale was 4th woman while Conor McCauley was 5th man.

The full results can be found on the Red Tag Timing website HERE

This race was last held in August 2019 which is now about 26 months ago.

A map of the 8km course is shown below and as you can see, it took the runners on a tour of Galway City.

Friday Jigsaw: Sonia O'Sullivan at the Cobh 10 mile

For this weeks online jigsaw, we go back a few years to just before the start of the annual Cobh 10-mile road race. There are a lot of colours in this picture so it shouldn't be too hard.

You can find the 192-piece jigsaw HERE

Friday Fun: Online Jigsaw of Lizzie Lee & Catherina McKiernan

 

For this weeks online jigsaw, we go back to 2015 and a race in which Lizzie Lee and Catherina McKiernan took part. Photo courtesy of Lizzie's dad Gearóid Ó Laoi.

The 156 piece jigsaw can be found here... https://www.jigidi.com/solve/ljvdcgyv/lizzie-lee-and-catherina-mckiernan/

Lizzie Lee sets new course record to win Stook 10 mile

Following on from winning the national Marathon title in Dublin at the end of October, Cork runner Lizzie Lee was back in action on Sunday at the Stook 10 mile in Kilkenny.

In a modest sized field of 289 runners, Lizzie broke the old course record  by 3 mins to finish in 1h 00m 37s. If that time looks a bit slow then it's because it was a really tough course!

1. 60:37 Lizzie Lee Leevale Athletic Club
2. 64:24 Isobel Oakes (unattached)
3. 67:58 Grace Reilly Portlaoise A.C.

Just three men finished ahead of Lizzie in this race organised by Gowran AC.

Stook 10 mile photos... https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.972231586298363&type=1&l=bd1c298fe4

Stook 10 mile results... https://www.popupraces.ie/the-stook-10-mile-and-5k-challenge/

Radio interview with 2018 National Marathon Champion Lizzie Lee

In this recording from Community Radio Youghal (CRY), Barry Drake talks to Lizzie Lee of Leevale who won the Irish national marathon title in Dublin last weekend.

Cork runner Lizzie Lee wins national marathon title

As predicted, conditions were pretty much perfect for running at this years 2018 Dublin City Marathon and the first Irish woman across the finish line was Lizzie Lee of Leevale AC in Cork.

Lizzie's finish time was 2h 35m 03s which isn't that far off her PB of 2:32:51 which she set back in 2015 in Berlin on a much flatter course.

This is Lizzie's first national title in the marathon and she is of course coached by Donie Walsh of Leevale.

There was quite a gap between the finishing times for the first 3 Irish women.

Caitriona Jennings of Letterkenny AC was second with a time of 2h 41m 16s.

Jill Hodgins of Leevale AC was third with a time of 2h 47m 51s which means that Cork runners took 1st and 3rd.

Cork runner Lizzie Lee wins South Dublin 10k...

 

 The South Dublin 10k on Sunday the 22nd of July attracted a large field of 2249 runners making it one of the largest 10k races in the country.

The first woman across the line was Lizzie Lee from Cork with a time of 33m 24s. What's pretty amazing is that Lizzie actually finished in 3rd place overall with only two men managing to stay ahead of her. Lizzie's team mate John Shine of Leevale AC was the 3rd man home.

5 Lizzie Lee Female 1 F35 1 LEEVALE AC 00:33:24 3    
4 Laura Graham Female 2 FS 1 MOURNE RUNNERS 00:35:09 19    
7 Catherina McKernan Female 3 F45 1 00:36:01 36
3 David Flynn     Male 1 MS 1 CLONLIFFE HARRIERS A.C. 00:32:02 1    
1926 Itato Giancaterina Male 2     MS 2 00:33:20 2    
3582 John Shine Male 3 MS 3 LEEVALE AC 00:33:34 4


Full results

Photos...
1) Gearóid Ó Laoi has a gallery HERE

Cork runner Lizzie Lee wins the 2018 VHI Womens 10k mini-marathon in Dublin

One of the biggest  if not the biggest running events in the country is the annual VHI Women's mini-marathon in Dublin. This year it was held on Sunday the 3rd of June and attracted a huge field of roughly 30,000 women.

The title this year is heading back to Cork after Lizzie Lee of Leevale AC won the race in a time of 34 min 18 secs. Siobhan O'Doherty from Tipperary finished 3rd while Leevale athlete Sinead O'Connor finished 7th in 36:25.

1 Lizzie Lee LEEVALE A.C. 00:34:18
2 Laura Shaughnessy DUNDRUM SOUTH DUBLIN A.C. 00:34:30
3 Siobhan O Doherty BORRISOKANE A.C. 00:34:54
4 Ciara Hickey BROTHERS PEARSE A.C. 00:35:32
5 Linda Byrne DUNDRUM SOUTH DUBLIN A.C. 00:36:01
6 Úna Britton KILCOOLE A.C. 00:36:12
7 Sinead Connor LEEVALE A.C. 00:36:35

Full results


Photo : Gearóid Ó Laoi

Cork runners Lizzie Lee & Claire McCarthy lead Irish team home in World Half-Marathon Championships

The IAAF World Half Marathon Championships were held this year in Valencia, Spain on Saturday the 24th of March 2018. In the women's race, Cork runners Lizzie Lee and Claire McCarthy of Leevale AC both ran personal best times to lead the Irish team home...

46 Lizzie Lee IRL     1:13:19     PB
57 Claire McCarthy IRL     1:14:20     PB
78 Laura Graham IRL     1:16:27    
79 Laura Shaughnessy IRL     1:16:28     SB
82 Fionnuala Ross IRL     1:16:53     SB

These were the times for the five Irish men.

77 Paul Pollock IRL     1:04:29     SB
85 Kevin Seaward IRL     1:04:56     SB
92 Stephen Scullion IRL     1:05:19   
101 Sergiu Ciobanu IRL     1:06:19     SB
135 Kevin Dooney IRL     1:12:14

Lizzie Lee from Cork runs PB to qualify for the World Half-Marathon Championships

 

Lizzie Lee of Leevale AC ran a new personal best time of 73:23 over the weekend in the Barcelona Hlaf-Marathon to qualify for the World Half-Marathon Championships in Valencia at the end of March. This was an improvement of 4 seconds for the 37 year-old Cork athlete who joins her club mate Claire McCarthy who qualified in Swansea last Summer.


Full results

Lizzie Lee from Cork wins Clonmel 4 miler on Stephens Day

One of the biggest races in Munster on St.Stephen's Day was the 4 miler in Clonmel, Tipperary with 454 finishers. Quite a number of runners from Cork made the journey to Tipp with Lizzie Lee of Leevale AC winning the women's race in a time of 21 mins 32 secs. Lizzie's last race was when she represented Ireland in the Slovak Republic at the European Cross Country Championships at the start of December.

Additional info from John Walshe of Ballycotton..."TWO COURSE RECORDS AT CLONMEL...

Lizzie Lee of Leevale improved Siobhan O’Doherty’s course record of 21:50 by 18 seconds to 21:32 at the MSD four-miler in Clonmel as O’Doherty took second place in a time of 22:17.

Sean Tobin of the host club knocked 20 seconds off of the previous men’s record when defeating fellow-internationals Brian Maher (KCH) and Kevin Maunsell (Clonmel).

Tobin, who ran a 3:57.00 mile last summer at the Cork City Sports and who was Ireland’s leading finisher in 15th place at the European cross-country two weeks ago, finished in a time of 18:34 with Maher (18:51) also inside the old record as Maunsell equalled the previous mark of 18:54."

1 Sean Tobin     Clonmel AC     18:34 SM
2 Brian Maher     Kilkenny City Harriers 18:51     SM
3 Kevin Maunsell Clonmel AC     18:54     SM
15 Lizzie Lee     Leevale AC         21:32     SF
20 Siobhan O Doherty Borrisokane AC    22:17     SF
32 Sally Forristal St Josephs AC    23:57     SF

Results & Photos HERE

Cork runners Michelle Finn and Lizzie Lee selected for Irish Cross Country Team

Following on from their 3rd and 4th place finish at the Senior Cross Country Championships in Dublin last Sunday, Cork runners Michelle Finn (#98) and Lizzie Lee (#81) have been selected for the Irish Cross Country Team. The European Cross Country Championships will take place in the Slovak Republic in December.

Announcing the team, Athletics Ireland High Performance Director Paul McNamara said: "The European Cross Country championships are of critical importance to Irish endurance running. We have an outstanding tradition at ‘Euro Cross’ and we are certainly looking to build on that in the 2017 edition of the event. Athletes have been selected based on their preparedness to compete with the best in Europe and this team travels intent on adding to recent successes."

Team Selections
Senior Women
Shona Heaslip (An Riocht A.C.), Kerry O'Flaherty (Newcastle & District A.C.), Michelle Finn (Leevale A.C.), Lizzie Lee (Leevale A.C.), Fionnuala Ross (Armagh A.C), Fionnuala McCormack (Kilcoole A.C.)
Senior Men 
Paul Pollock (Annadale Striders A.C.), Kevin Dooney (Raheny Shamrock A.C.), Hugh Armstrong (Ballina A.C.), John Travers (Donore Harriers A.C.), Sean Tobin (Clonmel A.C.), Kevin Maunsell (Clonmel A.C.)

Under-20 Women
Laura Nicholson (Bandon A.C.), Stephanie Cotter (West Muskerry A.C.), Jodie McCann (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.), Fian Sweeney (Dublin City Harriers A.C.), Sophie Murphy (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.), Fiona Everard (Bandon A.C.)

Under-20 Men
Craig McMeechan (North Down A.C.), Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock A.C.), Charlie O'Donovan (Leevale A.C.), Fearghal Curtin (Youghal A.C.), James Edgar (City of Lisburn A.C.), Darragh McElhinney (Bantry A.C.)

Under-23 Women
Bethanie Murray (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.)

Under-23 Men
Tom O’Keeffe (Kilkenny City Harriers), Eoin Strutt (Raheny Shamrock A.C.)

Photo: Gearóid Ó Laoi

Shona Heaslip wins National Senior Cross Country Title & Leevale AC secure team win

The National Cross Country Championships were held in Abbotstown, Dublin on Sunday the 26th of November.

In the Senior women's race, Shona Heaslip of An Ríocht AC in Kerry broke away from a group of four in the last lap to take the national title.

Great photo from Gearóid Ó Laoi showing Shona Heaslip on her way to winning the 2017 National Senior Cross Country Championship title

In the women's team event, Michelle Finn's 3rd and Lizzie Lee's 4th place finishes helped Leevale AC secure the Gold. Claire McCarthy and Sinead O'Connor were the other scoring members of the team.

28:31 1 Shona  Heaslip An Riocht A.C. An Riocht A.C. (A)
28:38 2 Kerry O'Flaherty  Newcastle & District AC Newcastle & District AC
28:44 3 Michelle Finn Leevale A.C.  Leevale A.C. (A)
28:51 4 Lizzie Lee  Leevale A.C.  Leevale A.C. (A)
29:16 7 Laura  Crowe An Riocht A.C. An Riocht A.C. (A)
29:43 10 Claire McCarthy Leevale A.C. Leevale A.C. (A)
30:25 18 Sinead O'Connor Leevale A.C. Leevale A.C. (A)

Club Team Points Place Club Positions Points
1 Leevale A.C. (A) 3, 4, 10, 18...35 pts
2 Dundrum South Dublin A.C. (A) 9, 11, 12, 14...46 pts
3 An Riocht A.C. (A) 1, 7, 50, 54...112 pts

Photo from Leevale AC of their Gold medal team

The same four Leevale athletes of course also represented Cork in the inter-county competition to take Gold there as well.

Full results of the women's race

In the men's competition, Mark Hanrahan of Leevale AC finished 6th while the East Cork AC team finished in 7th place, just ahead of Leevale AC in 8th.

Full results of the men's race

Photos...
1) Kieran Carlin of Finn Valley AC has 529 photos HERE
2) Athletics Ireland have a small gallery HERE
3) Gearóid Ó Laoi has a few photos of the start of the women's race HERE

Lizzie Lee wins Brickey 5k in West Waterford

Lizzie Lee made a return to the racing scene last Sunday when she won the Brickey 5k road race near Dungarvan in West Waterford.

Also pictured is Kate Veale of West Waterford AC who is one of the top female race walkers in the country. 

5 LEE, Lizzie Leevale Female O/35 16:51

18 VEALE, Kate West Waterford A.C. Senior Female 18:39

Results & Photos HERE

Reception at Áras an Uachtaráin for Irish Olympic team

On Sunday the 28th of August, President Michael D. Higgins held a special reception for the Irish athletes just back from the Olympics in Rio. Included in the entourage were Michelle Finn and Lizzie Lee from Cork.

Centre of attention...Annalise Murphy with her Olympic Silver medal