Cork runners on the podium in Malaga race...

Cork runners Conor McCauley of Leevale AC and John Meade of St.Finbarr's AC made it onto the podium at a recent race in Malaga, Spain. The race which was roughly 7kms in length was also covered by Spanish TV and it was interesting to see what a race in Spain looks like ... with sunshine! The podium section is around the 28 minute mark.

Donal Coakley of Leevale AC was also there and gives a report of the race in his own unique style...

10 Things I Think About the III Carrera de la Prensa (Malaga)

Fionnuala McCormack wins Cross Country race in Spain

As part of her preparation for the European Cross Country Championships in December, Fionnuala McCormack was in action in a high class cross country race in Spain.  On a course that was just over 8kms in lenght, the Irish athlete finished first.

Report from the IAAF.....

Nollaigh O'Neill from Cork wins Half-Marathon in Spain...

The Sancti Petri Half-Marathon was held last Sunday the 12th of April and the first woman home was Nollaigh O'Neill from Cork!

Nollaigh is a member of Leevale AC and she won the half-marathon in a time of 1h 24m 59s.

The Sancti Petri 10km & Half Marathon...Sunday 12th April 2015
Half Marathon 
                         1st Male           Marcos Juncal Maronas                      1:13:11
                         1st Female       Nollaigh O'Neill                                  1:24:59

The half-marathon was in Frontera in the South of Spain.

Nollaigh is also a former winner of the Lanzarote marathon in 2013.

Nollaigh O'Neill on the podium after winning the half-marathon

3D Running Track in Spain...

Recently, this new track facility was built in Alicante, Spain....

A standard 400m track except that it also has a 3-D feature..it has a hill as well!

An extra section of track curves up over an artificial hill with the changing rooms underneath. Between the curved hilly section and the normal track is a terraced section for spectators with an access tunnel under the track...

Obviously, the hilly section wont be used in competitions but what a novel feature...

Jill Hodgins from Cork wins 2012 Seville Marathon

Jill Hodgins from Cork won the Seville Marathon in Spain on Sunday, the 19th of February 2012. In doing so, Jill set a new personal best time of 2 hours 46 minutes 58 seconds to win the €6,000 first prize. (Half split 01:22:44)

5 PRIMERAS MUJERES
Puesto Dorsal T. Maratón T. Media  Nombre
 1  02:46:58 01:22:44 HODGINS, JILL
 2  03:02:18 01:30:12 JIMENEZ GUARDEÑO, MARIA DOLORES
 3  03:04:13 01:27:34 XHERVELLE, CHANTAL
 4  03:06:58 01:30:38 BERNALD HERNANDEZ, NOELIA
 5  03:09:21 01:30:40 HIDALGO BERUTICH, SILVIA

Her previous best was 2:52.21 set in the New York Marathon in 2009. Previous Marathon times were 3:14.35 in Dublin in 2006 and 3:06.35 in Toronto in 2008. She is the latest athlete to join the Marathon Mission squad with Athletics Ireland.
Just to put that time in perspective, Jill is just a mere 10 minutes outside the qualifying time for the 2012 London Olympics.

Fionnuala Britton finishes 8th in Seville...

Fionnuala Britton finished 8th in the Seville International Cross Country race in Spain. Results below...

This time, she finished 7 seconds behind the Italian Nadia Ejjafini who she beat by 18 seconds back in December. Perhaps racing three races in as many weeks is taking it's toll? Her next race is in Antrim next week.