Just a perfect day - Newry Half Marathon returns in style

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: Columba O'Hare; Category: Sports; Published: 29 May 2022

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Kerry O'Flaherty, Newcastle AC and District was the first woman home in the Newry Half Marathon in a time of 1:17:06

Forty year old Yared Derese from Carrick Aces broke the winners tape at today's Newry City Half Marathon in an impressive one hour six minutes precisely with first woman home Kerry O'Flaherty from Newcastle AC and District.

Yared Derese of Carrick Aces wins the Newry City Half Marathon in a time of 1:06:00. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie

The Newry City Half Marathon and 10k races are well and truly back on the Newry event calendar.
With well over 1000 competitor taking place on what was a beautiful day for the event. There was a mix of overcast and sunshine conditions with a light wind, that saw runners from across Ireland start out at the Albert Basin outside The Quays Shopping Centre.

With The Gym Gura Natasha Daryaie the warm up coach for the competitors and Kevin McAllister keeping the music pumping the atmosphere was electric, although this writer was exhausted just watching the warm up!

Donna Evans from Clones AC was first woman home in the Newry 10k in a time of 0:40:34. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie

The Newry BID sponsored event organised by Newry City Runners saw athletes run down into Greenbank then to Warrenpoint and back. Also sponsoring were Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Newry Credit Union while

James Sloan, Newry AC was first man home in the Newry 10k in a time of 0:32:54.

First man home in the Newry City Half Marathon was forty year old Yared Derese from Carrick Aces, Carrickmacross in a time of 1:06:00 followed by 29 year old Andrew Annett, Mourne Runners in a time of 1:08:45. In third place was Brendan Heaney, Armagh AC in 1:13: 34.

First woman home in the Half Marathon was 40 year old Kerry O'Flaherty, Newcastle AC and District in a time of 1:17:06 followed by 33 year old Michelle Donnelly, Strength and Fitness in 1:27:12 and third was Eimear McCracken in 1:28:20

The Newry 10k saw James Sloan from Newry AC jaunt home in 0:32:54 followed four seconds later by Conal McGinley, City of Derry Spartans on 0:32:59 and then Pauric McKinney, Inishowen AC in third place at 0:33:12.

55 year old Donna Evans from Clones AC ran an incredible race to be the first woman home in a time of 0:40:34 followed by 50 year old Niamh O'Connell, Murlough AC on 0:41:19 and Jacqueline McMonagle, City of Derry Spartans AC on 0:41:28.

Perhaps though the achievements of those who weren't first past the post were the most incredible on the day. Those who were aiming for and achieved personal bests, those who were running in memory of family or friends that are no longer with us, those who wanted especially to raise funds for the chosen charities for many individual and personal reasons and last of all those who just did it for the fun of it!

Well done each and every one of the competitors, organisers and volunteers.