Heaslip and Tobin earn national 10k crowns

Shona Heaslip and Seán Tobin claimed the national 10km titles on the roads of Dunboyne, with Heaslip and women’s runner-up Ann Marie McGlynn securing B-standards for the European Championships.

Heaslip clocked a course record of 32:49 to take the women’s crown, the Kerrywoman going well under the European 10,000m B-standard of 33:15, with road races now eligible for track qualification.

McGlynn was next in with 33:10 ahead of national cross country champion Fiona Everard (33:22).

“I’ve been fortunate that since I’ve come back from my injury, things have been going well on the road and the plan going forward is hopefully the European half marathon in June if selected,” said Heaslip.

In the men’s race, Tobin bounced back to form after a recent illness with a victory in 29:17, pulling clear of Pierre Murchan (29:21) in the final kilometre, with Emmet Jennings third in 29:44.

“I’ve had a big month of mileage,” said Tobin, who is preparing for the London Marathon next month. “I got quite ill in January and it took me six or seven weeks to get right.

“I finished this week with close to 120 miles in the legs. I’ve two more weeks of hard work and then taper. For London, I just want to run well and not worry about the outcome.”

Elsewhere, Jodie McCann continued her fine form Down Under with a big PB over 3000m in Sydney of 8:52.92, moving her to ninth on the Irish all-time list. In Melbourne, Andrew Coscoran claimed victory over 1000m in 2:19.36 ahead of Australia’s Stewart McSweyn and fellow Irishman Paul Robinson (2:20.78).