Results & photos of the Sonia 5k in Cobh...Sat 19th Sept 2015

There was a big turnout of 560 runners for the Sonia 5k in Cobh, an impressive number considering that the Charleville Half-Marathon is on Sunday.

1  IAN KIPRONO            Male    501    (16:16)    16:17   
2 MICHAEL BRUTON        Male    50    (16:19)    16:20   
3 PETER HANRAHAN        TOGHER A.C    Male    596    (16:30)    16:31   
4 BRYAN CROWLEY        WATERGRASSHILL AC    Male    545    (16:38)    16:38   
5 PAUL MOLONEY        Mallow A.C.    Male    487    (16:43)    16:45   
1 AMY ROSE FARRELL        Blackrock A.C. (Dublin)    Female    121    (17:10)    17:10   
2 SOPHIE O'SULLIVAN        Ballymore Cobh A.C.    Female    313    (17:25)    17:25   
3 CARLY COOKE        U.C.C. A.C.    Female    77    (18:21)    18:23   
4 CARMEL PARNELL        Leevale A.C.    Female    466    (18:37)    18:39   
5 SONIA O SULLIVAN        Female    1    (19:05)    19:05

The provisional results can be seen HERE

Race report from Athletics Ireland HERE

Photos...(Updated Mon 1pm)
1) There are 300+ photos up on the Running in Cork Facebook page HERE
2) Derek Costello of Eagle AC has a gallery of over 500 photos HERE
3) Mick Dooley of Eagle AC has a gallery HERE
4) The organisers have a gallery of photos HERE 

Video...
1) Precision Timing have a finish line video from 16 to 36 minutes HERE

This 5km race was organised by Athletics Ireland and Ballymore Cobh AC. The race website is http://www.sonia5k.ie

Nice video here from Athletics Ireland about the event...

Looking ahead to the Sonia 5k on Saturday 19th Sept 2015

The big race in Cork next Saturday is of course the Sonia 5k in Cobh. Here is some of the relevant info..

1) The race HQ is at the Community College near the highest point in the town and the 5km race starts near there. The finish of the 5km race is near the square near the waterfront. You can pick up your race number in the Commodore Hotel on Friday evening between 7-9pm if you wish. You can also enter then if you haven't done so already.

2) This is the schedule of events on Saturday...

a) There will be a kids one mile race next to the Community School at 4pm...

b) Between 3pm and 5:30pm, numbers can be picked up at the Community School and entries will be taken there as well.

c) At 6pm, the 5km race will start near the Community School and finish down near sea level.

Course Preview......A full preview of the course with maps and photos can be seen HERE

The weather forecast is for a dry day with some sunshine.

More info on the race website... http://www.sonia5k.ie/cobh/

Sunday 20th Sept 
a) There will be an unveiling of a statue to Sonia O'Sullivan at 3pm on Sunday...

Q & A with Sonia O'Sullivan about the Sonia 5k next Saturday 19th Sept

The Sonia 5k is coming up next Saturday the 19th of September in Cobh at 6pm. More info in this previous post.

As part of the build up to the race, the organisers had a Q&A session with Sonia O'Sullivan...

Q and A

What will it be like to come home and do the Sonia 5k in Cobh? Will it bring a special feeling…

It's always great to come home and run through the streets of Cobh, there was a time when not so many people ran through the streets of Cobh but that has changed recently and it's amazing really how long it took for some people to catch on to the running bug that I haven’t been able to let go of and still continue to enjoy.

Not many people know but one of my very last competitive races that I won was in Cobh – a 5km on the streets of Cobh at the Regatta 5km in 2007, this was around the time that I was starting to realise that my results were not matching my training efforts .

Cobh is a very compact town and the perfect setting for a race finish especially if the town's people come out to cheer everyone on. It's really great that there will be mile races for children so all the family can be involved and you never know someone new may just catch the running bug.

Ballymore Cobh has seen a huge resurgence in members over the past year and it is fantastic to see so many Cobh people enjoying running and all that it adds to their daily life.

Dun Laoghaire saw a lot of women coming to the event. Why do you think it appealed to women?

It was a surprise to notice the significant numbers of women taking part in the DL Sonia 5k, it was so much fun to see so many groups of women come along for the evening and for me to get the opportunity to run back and share the run with them as they streamed in to the finish line. This is a great opportunity for the women of Munster to join in the fun and make their presence felt on the streets of Cobh.

What is the importance of exercise for mothers and active women?

Exercise is important for everyone but I think women can find themselves often bogged down with all the household chores and cooking. It is just so nice to have that escape to go for a run and this is made so much easier when there are regular times and meeting spots where runners meet up and all are welcome. It's a known fact if you agree to meet someone to run then you are much more likely to get out and exercise whatever the weather.

Will it be extra special to have the run in Cobh as you will have traveled full circle from where you started to one of the pinnacles of your career?

I have ran many miles around the streets of Cobh, up the hills and around the back of the island, on the low road, high road, lake road circuit for as long as I can remember on those cold dark winter nights. Cobh has so many great running routes if you are willing to explore so to culminate with 5km in the middle of the town on september 19th will be really special. So many times I returned to Cobh after winning medals on the European, World and Olympic stage and stood on the back of a lorry just wishing I could do a song or a dance in front of thousands of expectant fans and supporters who were always there for me in good times and bad so to be able to lace up my shoes and run through the town is the action I love to be involved with.

More info on the race website... http://www.sonia5k.ie/cobh/

More info about the course HERE

Notice...Sonia 5k in Cobh - Sat 19th Sept 2015

 This is a new race on the calendar and should be a popular one. Back in 1995, Sonia O'Sullivan won the Gold medal in the 5,000m at the World Championships in Sweden. To commemorate the 20th anniversary, there will be a 5k race in Sonia's home town of Cobh and all finishers will receive a replica of the World Championship medal.

See the press release below...

Sonia Comes Home: Sonia 5k Celebrates 20 Year Anniversary of Historic Gold at World Championships

Be a World Champion for a Day in Cobh at the Sonia 5k  

Athletics Ireland is delighted to announce the Sonia 5K in association with Euromedic Ireland takes place on Saturday 19th of September at 6pm to mark the 20th Anniversary of Irish athletics icon Sonia O’Sullivan’s historic victory in the 5,000 metres at the IAAF World Championships in Gothenburg in 1995 in her hometown of Cobh.

This will be the second running of the Sonia 5K which got off to a great start in Dun Laoghaire on June 13th. Join the former World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist in this Special Celebration event on a beautiful scenic route in the seaside town of Cobh – the homeland of Sonia.

“Its always great to come home and run through the streets of Cobh,” said the Cobh express. “There was a time when not so many people ran through the streets of Cobh but that has changed recently and it’s amazing really how long it took for some people to catch on to the running bug that I haven’t been able to let go of and still continue to enjoy.

“It was a surprise to notice the significant numbers of women taking part in the Dun Laoghaire Sonia 5k. It was so much fun to see so many groups of women come along for the evening and for me to get the opportunity to run back and share the run with them as they streamed in to the finish line. This is a great opportunity for the women of Munster to join in the fun and make their presence felt on the streets of Cobh.”

All finishers will receive a Unique Commemorative Medal - an exact replica of the World Championship Gold Medal won by Sonia when she became Ireland’s first-ever female Athletics World Champion.

“The Sonia 5K is about much more than running; it is about highlighting the importance of taking time each day for personal health and wellness, it is about encouraging activities and participation in your own personal fitness activities whether you run, walk, or jog and it gives Euromedic Ireland the opportunity to honour the legacy of one of Ireland’s greatest athletes, Sonia O’Sullivan,” said Tom Finn, CEO of Euromedic Ireland.

“The inaugural Sonia 5k in Dun Laoghaire  on June 13th was a great success and Euromedic, as title sponsor, is looking forward to the second running in Cobh on September 19th.”

The entry fee for the 5k is €15 and there will be a Kids Mile Run too so they can join in the fun (entry fee is €8). Log on to www.sonia5k.ie/cobh/

Details on the 5k course can be seen in this post.