Exciting finish to Bob Heffernan 5k race last night

Hiko Tanosa (DSD) edged out Peter Somba (Dunboyne) in the Na Fianna AC-promoted Bob Heffernan 5km, Kia Road Race Series last night.

Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise AC) got the better of Sinead O Connor (Leevale AC) in the women's race.

The Bob Heffernan 5k is one of the oldest races in Meath and is dedicated to the memory of the late Bob Heffernan who was one of the founding members of Na Fianna AC. 

This year, for the second year, the race formed part of the nationwide Kia Race Series, brought to you by Pop Up Races and featured a record entry of over 750 participants. 

The race has a reputation for being one of the fastest around, and this year's race was no different, with almost 250 runners under the magic 20-minute mark. 

The men's podium was the same for the second year in-a-row, but the positions we not decided until the last 100 yards between Hiko Tanosa (DSD AC) and Peter Somba (Dunboyne AC) who won in Navan on Friday night.
Tanosa broke clear to win in a time of 14:18, equalling his own course record set in 2018. Eric Keogh, the current Kia Race Series holder, of Donore Harriers rounded out the top three.

The ladies race was another fantastic battle between Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise AC) and Sinead O Connor (Leevale AC). 

These two ladies have battled it out in all three rounds of this year's Kia Race Series and this time Mulhare took the spoils in a time of 16:40, seven seconds ahead of O’ Connor who was a further couple of seconds ahead of Ciara Wilson of DMP AC.

This is round three of the Kia Race Series, and with tables to be updated, it certainly is all to play for with Eric Keogh fighting hard to retain his car in the male series, and Sinead O Connor and Mary Mulhare battling out with Siobhan O Doherty and others at the top of the ladies table.

The Kia Race Series is Ireland’s premier nationwide road race series, taking in established club races across Ireland, pitting Irelands best male and female runners against each other, with the overall winners driving away in a brand-new Kia Stonic to use for one year. 

All three races to date have seen record entries and record-breaking times as the series continues to benefit the clubs involved as well as the athletes.

The next race in the Kia Race Series is the Braveheart 5k, hosted by Trim AC (Meath)  which will take place on Friday, 14th June 

KIA Race Series - remaining races
           
Braveheart 5k (Trim), June 14th 8pm        

Dunshaughlin (Meath) 10k Road Race: Saturday June 22nd, 7:30pm

Roscommon 10 Mile: July 6th, 10:30am

Edenderry (Offaly): 10 Mile, July 21st 9:30am

Castlepollard 5k (Westmeath) Wednesday Aug 14th, 8pm

The Lakes 10k (Blessington/Wicklow) September 7th, 11am