MICK CLOHISEY and LIZZIE LEE

Two of Ireland’s most popular long-distance athletes enjoyed national title success in last Sunday’s Dublin Marathon.

Mick Clohisey (32), running his home-town marathon for the first time, crossed the line sixth in 2:15.58 to also become Irish champion – the fastest time to win that title since Tommy Hughes’s 2:14.46 in 1991.

An equally popular firsttime Irish champion was Cork woman Lizzie Lee

(38), who not only won the Irish title but also finished third overall in the women’s race, in a time of

2:35.05.