Ethiopian Yared Derese smashed the course record as he won the Donegal Half Marathon in 1 hour 7 minutes and 22 seconds this morning.
Running for the Carrick Aces club in Monaghan, he crossed the line more than six minutes ahead of second placed Shane O’Donnell (1:13.38) with Philip McHugh of Letterkenny AC (1:15.28) in third.
Helen McCready of Rosses AC defended her women’s title as she knocked almost two minutes off last year’s time to win in 1:24.54, ahead of Natasha Kelly of Finn Valley AC (1:24.32) and Ciara Cunningham of Tir Chonaill AC (1:24.36).
More than 450 people entered this year’s event which was based at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny.
The category winners were:
M40 – Raymond Birch, Letterkenny AC
M45 – Charlie O’Donnell, Rosses AC
M50 – Patrick Trimble – Rosses AC
M55 – Anthony Doherty – Milford AC
M60 – Karol Doherty – Inishowen
F40 – Martina Mulhern – Rosses AC
F45 – Deirdre McGarrigle – Tir Chonaill AC
F50 – Philomena Gallagher – Tir Chonaill AC
F55 – Emer Magee – Rosses AC
F60 – Margaret Sweeney
