Almost 2000 runners took to the start line for the Bohermeen AC Half Marathon on Sunday. Photo: Gerry Shanahan - www.cyberimages.net

Sheridan steals the show at Bohermeen

ATHLETICS

Bohermeen AC's Nichola Sheridan stole the show at her home club's half marathon on Sunday as she coasted to a hugely impressive victory in the women's race.

Record numbers finished the event incorporating the 51st Rennicks Cup and 48th Fr Delany Cup. With nine runners under 70 minutes and 111 runners breaking the 80 minute barrier.

Martin Fox from Armagh won the race in 67 minutes 23 seconds but not until the final mile or two when he expressed himself to finish ahead of last year's winner Marin Hoare from Celbridge and 2022 winner Jake O’Reagan from St John's.

The Armagh man Fox came home a strong winner from Hoare and Aaron O’Hanlon from Drogheda & District, better known at the shorter distance. The first Meath athlete was Eoin O’Connell of Tara and the first Bohermeen man was James Sherlock.

The ladies race was a little more clear cut as Sheridan, who received the Meath Ladies Road and Senior Cross-Country Athlete of the Year award the night before, was clear from the gun.

As she passed through on the first lap she had just a few seconds lead on Lea Adamson from Annadale Striders Belfast, but as the race unfolded and the tempo rose, Sheridan came home to win in 76:30 which is a new personal best and new Bohermeen club record for the distance. Adamson held on for second with Kate Purcell, the 2023 winner from Raheny, third.