4 June 2017, Sunday, 2.30pm
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Over 7,500 participants crossed the finish line on Patrick Street in this year’s Cork City Marathon
For the first time in 11 years, participants took to the starting line today for a Sunday Runday, as they took part in the momentous Cork City Marathon. With 24 different countries and 47 nationalities represented, over 7,500 participants took to the streets of Cork. With numbers up nearly 10% on last year, this date change proved extremely popular among athletes with almost 1,400 marathoners, a record entry in the half of over 2,600 runners and 700 relay teams, encompassing the all-import Youth Challenge teams, taking part.
These colors do run @TheCorkMarathon ????? pic.twitter.com/FDuTeeYoDq
— Chris Mocko (@chrismocko) June 4, 2017
After a phenomenal run right from the off, Chris Mocko (31), coming all the way from Cork twinned city San Francisco, in commanding fashion took his 1st Cork City Marathon win with ease in 2:26:43, just over three minutes clear of runner-up, and the first Irish runner to cross the line, David Mansfield, Clonliffe Harriers, who finished in 2:29:20.
After quitting his job in the technology industry in Silicon Valley to focus on his passion for athletics full-time, Chris now adds the Cork City Marathon win to his impressive CV, which includes victories in the San Francisco Marathon, Oakland Marathon, and three wins in the Napa Valley Marathon.
Speaking with great excitement and pride crossing the finish line in spectacular fashion with a limbo under the finish line ribbon, winner Chris Mocko commented, “I didn’t sleep the entire time I was here as I was jet lagged, but it all came together this morning and it was a beautiful race, gorgeous course and the people were just so supportive throughout. It was amazing, they were all shouting ‘Go Captain America, Go USA’, so hopefully I represented the Stars and Stripes and the Olympic Club well today. I decided to do the Cork City Marathon because my club in San Francisco, the Olympic Club, sent me an invitation from the Mayor of San Francisco and whenever you get an invitation from the Mayor you have to accept it! The Cork City Council have really looked after us. This is a first for me to do a marathon outside of the states and to travel this far. I’ve done a couple in the West Coast, California, the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon and in terms of performances this is one of the best ones so I’m pretty happy about that. It was kind of a mental battle with the wind and I was wearing tights and had no sunglasses so was sweating but I made it through and I’m really happy.”
With this win under his belt, Chris Mocko now has his sights firmly set on a 100 mile ultra-race back in the USA.
In warm conditions, with the sun shining down on our athletes, the first female over the line, taking her first Cork City Marathon win was Cork local Jill Hodgins in a time of 2:48:18. Having taken part in theCork City Marathon, Jill was thrilled to come back this year and take victory on home turf. Jill took a strong lead right from the start and cruised home an unbelievable 14 minutes ahead of reigning back-to-back female winner, Nollaig Hunter.
Jill, the 40-year-old female winner from Douglas Cork commented; “This was my second time competing in the Cork City Marathon, I competed 3 years ago and finished third so it’s lovely to cross the finish line now with a first. I am absolutely thrilled as it’s a culmination of about a year of hard graft. I am elated to have finished, just like everyone else running today, and delighted to have won. I’ve been lucky enough to win another marathon in Seville but it’s very special today on home ground”.
File photo: Dr Dorothy Breen, ICU Consultant, CUH and Sinead Kane, World Marathon Challenge athlete. The CUH charity was one of many to benefit from today’s marathon where runners ran for various charities. Photo: Gerard McCarthy
Key Marathon Results:
Marathon Male
1st – Chris Mocko (USA), Olympic Club, 2:26:4
2nd – David Mansfield, Clonliffe Harriers and 2:29:20
3rd – Gary O’Hanlon, Clonliffe Harriers and 2:30:20
Marathon Female
1st – Jill Hodgins, 2:48:18
2nd – Nollaigh O’ Neill, Leevale AC and 3:02:32
3rd – Joan Ennis, Grange Fermoy AC and 3:07:32
MALE HALF MARATHON WINNERS 1st – Peter Samba, Dunboyne AC 1:07:46
2nd – Sergiu Ciobanu, 1:07:48 3rd – John Meade, St. Finbarrs AC, 1:13:26 pic.twitter.com/xsuCTs28oK— Cork City Marathon (@TheCorkMarathon) June 4, 2017
Half Marathon Male
1st – Peter Samba, Dunboyne AC and 1:07:46
2nd – Sergiu Ciobanu, 1:07:48
3rd – John Meade, St. Finbarrs AC, 1:13:26
Half Marathon Female
1st – Claire McCarthy, 1:16:34
2nd – Grace Lynch, Iveragh AC, 1:18:57
3rd – Fiona Santry, East Cork AC, 1:24:09
Relay
1st – Leevale Lads, 2:21:32
2nd – Simply Suits, 2:28:46
3rd – Leevale Legends, 2:33:30
Youth Challange
Colaiste 2, 3:13:33
St. Catherine’s, 3:29:36
Colaiste 1, 3:37:36
On a day that saw over 7,500 competitors in action across the various events, Race Director Jim O’Donovan paid tribute to all those who took part in the 11th year of this sporting event, “Congratulations to all of the winners of the2017 Cork City Marathon and to each and every one that crossed the finish line,” he said. “This race is more than a marathon, I am delighted that our marathon is recognised for its inclusivity, and we had many first-time athletes on the course. It’s a huge achievement to complete a goal of a first marathon, half or leg of a relay, and something which all participants should take great pride in. Particular thanks to those who ran for charity, raising significant funds for a variety of great causes.”
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank those, that without whom, this great marathon would not be possible, the volunteers. We had approximately 600 volunteers around the course comprised of 240 race stewards, 150 water station volunteers, 120 medical and first aid personal and over 100 Gardaí.” concluded Mr. O’Donovan.
For a full list of 2017 Cork City Marathon results for the in the Marathon, Half Marathon, Team Relay, Inter-Services Championships and Youth Challenge, please visit www.corkcitymarathon.ie. For images and video footage from the race day or to share your Cork City Marathon race day story check out Facebook and Instagramcorkcitymarathon or Twitter @TheCorkMarathon #MoreThanAMarathon
