McGlynn and Kimosop power to Belfast success
KENYA’S Gideon Kimosop and Letterkenny’s Ann Marie McGlynn took the honours in emphatic fashion in yesterday’s seventh Deep RiverRock Belfast Half Marathon, where 4,500 runners defied the rainy conditions.
It was always going to be a tall order for anyone to get close to 32-year-old Kimosop from the Rift Valley, who was going for a record fourth victory.
A year ago, he won the race by the commanding margin of three minutes and there was every expectation that there would be a similar result this time around.
However, for a long time in the early rain-sodden conditions the Kenyan had company in the form of Acorns’ Eoin Hughes.
He and 59-year-old father Tommy Hughes were making an attempt to break the world record for a combined father/ son time which stands at three hours, 20 minutes and 33 seconds.
The Hughes family stuck grimly to this difficult task and the record was still feasible at the halfway mark, where Eoin was only 20 seconds behind Waterside Half Marathon champion Kimosop.
At that stage in the women’s race, McGlynn was enjoying another superb run and was well clear of local woman Gladys Ganiel.
In the second part of the race, former Belfast Marathon runner-up Kimosop established a commanding lead and crossed the line in 66 minutes 58 seconds .
Eoin Hughes fought to the end for a runner-up time of 68 minutes and 30 seconds, while former Olympic marathon runner Tommy secured seventh in 72 minutes and 34 seconds.
Their attack on the world record only failed by a frustrating 31 seconds.
Laganside winner John Black of North Belfast was third in 69 minutes 12 seconds, with Lisburn AC’s Chris Madden in fourth.
Kimosop intends to compete again in the Bangor 10k this weekend. He explained that the prize money here goes a long way towards supporting his extended family of 13 in Africa.
In the women’s race, McGlynn took the spoils in an outstanding time of 72 minutes 58 seconds which is her second fastest ever.
Former Commonwealth Games competitor Ganiel was second, some way back in 77 minutes 21 seconds. She was followed by England’s Joanne McCandless (79 minutes 50 seconds), Sarah Lavery of Beechmount (79 minutes 59 seconds) and City of Derry’s Catherine Whoriskey (80 minutes 10 seconds). All smiles: Ann-Marie McGlynn beams with delight after winning the women’s Belfast Half Marathon