Sean Hehir of Metro St. Brigid’s AC was the comfortable winner of the 10k race at the Pettitt’s Supervalu Wexford Half Marathon and 10k on Sunday.
Hehir, who won the Dublin Marathon in 2013 and represented Ireland in the Marathon at the 2017 World Championships in London, as well as the 2014 European Championships in Zurich, took victory comfortably by over a minute finishing in a time of 32.53. This was reasonably modest running by Hehir’s standards as he has a road PB of 30.38 which dates back to Dunshauglin in 2015.
Representatives from clubs in Wicklow also fared well in this race. Sli Cualann AC’s Alan Duffy was second in a time of 34.03, closely followed by Andrew O’Brien of Kilcoole AC who ran 34.08.
The first Wexford man to cross the line was Denis Whelan of Slaney Olympic AC in Enniscorthy. Whelan clocked a time of 35.07.
Audrey Gahan of Donore Harriers was the first female athlete to cross the line. Gahan ran 44.09. Bebhinn Lee and Nicola Kehoe were the second and third female finishers, respectively.
Local man David Mahon was the winner of the Half Marathon. Mahon of Slaney Olympic AC regularly performs well at county and Leinster level and has gained a profile for himself on the local running scene in the county since the return of events following Covid in June 2020, when he emerged as an unknown quantity.
He had over three minutes to spare in victory on Sunday, producing a commanding performance to win in 1.11.43. Another athlete from Wexford finished in second with Paul Doran of United Striders AC, New Ross, clocking 1.15.06. Enda Bagnall of Eden Tri Club in Edenderry, Co. Offaly was third in 1.16.08. Bagnall had a very busy weekend having finished 7th in the National Duathlon Championships just the day before.
Lucy O’Malley was the first female athlete home, running 1.26.15, followed closely by Erika Dowling of Kilkenny Tri Club in 1.26.38. Louise Morgan of Ferrybank AC on the Kilkenny/Waterford border was third in 1.27.52.
A date has already been set for this popular race which will be returning next year. An early bird offer is already available, and the race will be held on Sunday April 23rd, 2023.
