by Perri Williams
Hiko Tonos has equaled the Irish half-marathon record with his 60:51 which he recorded in Saville at the weekend. Regarded as one of the flattest courses in Europe, it is a popular choice amongst elite athletes, with fast times being recorded each year. The Ethiopian born athlete finished 4th in the race that was won by Vincent Nyageo (Kenya). Tonosa who competes with Dundrum South Dublin matched the mark set by Efrem Gidey in Copenhagen last September. While the time may be a record (subject to ratification) it is not the fastest time recorded by an Irish man. Alastair Cragg recorded a 60:49 half-marathon in New York a few years back on a course where the net elevation drop was above the allowable limit. In the past week three athletes have posted rapid half-marathon times, all in the lead up to a hopeful marathon standard for the World Championships later this year. Peter Lynch (KCH) and Barry Keane (Waterford AC) both ran 61.15 and 61.22 at the Houston half.
Tonosa is currently in training for the Rotterdam marathon (April) where he also hopes to achieve a qualifying time for the World Championships to be held this year in Tokyo. This is the second time in a few months that the DSD athlete has set a new record. At the Dublin City Marathon he ran 2:09.15, taking seven seconds off Stephen Scullions previous record. With two national records in the lead up to Rotterdam, Tonosa looks set to set even quicker times, which will hopefully lead to that World Championship qualification.
It was a busy weekend of action. In Nantes on Saturday Mark English finished second to Yanis Meziane (France) over 800m at the World Athletics Tour Bronze meeting. Recording a time of 1:46.48 English is inside the European Indoor B standard. English has recently changed coaches and is now coached by Justin Rinaldi of the Fast8 Track Club. At the same World IndoorTour meeting Somer Lecky finished 3rd in the high jump, jumping 1.78m.
Elizabeth Ndudi was in action for the second time this season, on Saturday in the Fighting Illini meet at the Illinois-Armory, in Champaign. Competing for the University of Illinois Ndudi finished third in the Long Jump with a leap of 6.24m. This is 20cm less than what she jumped two weeks ago. Ndudi kick started her season on January 11th at the same venue where she finished 5th jumping 6.42m. The DSD athlete came to public attention when she won the u20 European Championships in the Long Jump – the first Irish field eventer to take gold. She subsequently finished 6th at the World Championships in Peru (2024) after an injury had interrupted her preparation.
At the Jablonec indoor meeting in Czechia, National shot putt record holder Eric Favors got his indoor season off to a start with second place in the shot putt. Favors threw 19.15m. The winner was Tomas Stanek (Czechia) who threw 20.49m.