Irish in Action Abroad This Weekend - LA and Valencia - Dec 4 - 6 2020
Cork (& Irish) Athletes Run in Los Angeles and Valencia
Friday 4th & Sunday 6th December
Fearghal Curtin
Our top-level athletes have been starved of competition for months (......like everyone else!), however this weekend sees a welcome glint of 'sunlight in the darkness', with The Track Meet in Los Angeles, USA, tonight, where Fearghal Curtin (Arizona State and Youghal AC) and Ciaran O 'Lionáird (NIKE & Leevale AC) run in separate 5,000m races.
The meet location is, apparently, a closely kept secret - at time of writing, the athletes haven't been told exactly where in L.A. the venue is - to ensure that large crowds don't turn up. Strange times we live in!
Also in action the same meet are Barry Keane (Waterford AC), who goes in the same race as Fearghal, and sisters Róisín and Eilish Flanagan (Adams State & Carmen Runners, Tyrone)
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Fearghal and Barry run at 4:55am Irish time tomorrow morning, in the Men's Sub-13:30 5,000m, while Ciarán Ó Lionáird runs in the Sub-13:15 5,000m, at 4:45am. Reportedly Ciaran is 'on fire' lately and is on pacemaking duties. The Flanagan sisters go in the Women's Sub-15:10 5,000m, at 4:20am.
The meet is covered live on USATF TV, but you will need a subscription ($12.99 for a month) to watch tonight.
Valencia Elite Marathon
7:30am Sunday December 6th
The Valencia Marathon was due to be held several months ago, but, like all but a few events, was cancelled due to Covid. However Sunday next sees an elite only Marathon & Half-Marathon taking place in the city, with the Men's field reportedly being the strongest Marathon field ever.
| Strongest Marathon Field Ever | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Valencia | Next-best major | |
| Sub-2:05 men | 9 | 8 (2015/2019 London) |
| Sub-2:06 men | 14 | 11 (2020 Tokyo) |
| Sub-2:07 men | 23 | 14 (2020 Tokyo) |
| Sub-2:08 men | 25 | 15 (2019 Boston) |
| Sub-2:21 women | 8 | 8 (2019 London) |
| Sub-2:22 women | 9 | 9 (2019 London, 2020 Tokyo) |
| Sub-2:23 women | 13 | 11 (2019 Boston) |
| Sub-2:24 women | 17 | 12 (2019 Tokyo, 2019 Boston) |
| Sub-2:25 women | 19 | 12 (2019 Tokyo, 2019 Boston, 2020 Tokyo) |
The event is being Livestreamed on the Event Website and on Youtube
The Half-Marathon starts at 07am Sunday, with the Marathon at 07:30am
With so many events postponed or cancelled altogether, this will have a huge influence on Olympic Qualification. Expect fast races! At the front, there will be strong competition for thebig prizemoney on offer - a staggering €5.3 million has been invested in this year's elite half marathon and marathon
Irish interests lie in Ann-Marie McGlynn and Gary O'Hanlon. Aoife Cooke (Eagle AC) is also listed, however 'the grapevine' word is that she has deferred her Olympic Marathon Qualification attempt until Spring
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| Ann-Marie McGlynn | Aoife Cooke | Gary O'Hanlon |
