Club Well represented at Streets of Thurles 5k
Thurles town was brought to a temporary standstill at 8pm last Thursday evening August 15th in ideal sunny conditions. A large contingent of 376 participants gathered at the startline at Mitchell street The race was started by Thurles Croke's Patsy Dorney where the wave of runners descended past the Cathedral running over the bridge down the main street taking a left down the Slievenamon road, past the roundabout at Dunnes Stores where it turned right on the Clongour road heading towards Friar street via Butler avenue this loop was repeated twice before heading to the finish line past Hayes Hotel at the end of Liberty Square. Great support was shown by the general public who clapped every runner on, As the race unfolded 4 athletes distanced themselves from the pack early on. Our Own Mossy Bracken Moycarkey Coolcroo, Dundrum native Kevin Moore Mullingar Harriers AC, William Hughes Thurles Crokes and pre race favourite Irish International Sean Tobin Clonmel AC. There was nothing in it in but Sean Tobin showed his experience and fast finishing kick in the end winning the race in 14mins & 58 seconds with Kevin Moore just 1 second adrift in 14mins 59 and Mossy having a fantastic run along the streets he runs numerous times in training in 3rd place in 15:03. It was also a interesting fact to note the race had two sub 4 minute milers taking part the first Tipperary man to break the 4 minute mile was Tommy Moloney of Thurles Crokes who ran 3.54.68 at the Cork City Sports back in 1983, The 2nd man to do so in 2014 was Sean Tobin in College for Olé Mississippi in America in 3:59.91 the youngest Irishperson to do so at the time when he was just 19 years of age until Nic Griggs ran sub 4 at just 17 years of age in 2022. He would go on to break the 4min mile a further 2 times, It's great to see Sean back running so well again after injury, still only 30 years of age he will surely have his sights set on Winning a National Senior cross country title in the future. Back to the race again we had a strong showing from Coolcroo with 8 runners in total, new recruit Shane Minogue had a stellar run in 12th place overall with a PB in 17:28, also running well was John Fogarty in 17:49, Paddy Cummins made a welcome return after injury having a good run in 18th place in 18:14. Donie Bergin continues to improve running well with a new PB in 18:46 in 25th place, Shane Mullaney was next to cross the finish line with a steady run in 68th place in 20:24 Liam Meaney set a new personal best for the 5k in 20:45 in 79th place with Paudie Guidera making his debut for the club with a good run also running a PB in 110th place in 21:42 to round off a great evening of running. A well-organized event by Thurles Crokes AC & Pop Up Races where there was a great support of stewards & volunteers to make sure everything ran smoothly, Thanks to photographer Niall Moran who has an array of fantastic pics from the event on his facebook page, Well done to All.