Murchan the runaway winner on the Streets of Kilkenny

It was a record-breaking night as the Streets of Kilkenny 5k scaled new heights in the Marble City on Holy Thursday.

The event, organised by local athletics club the Kilkenny City Harriers, was a sold-out success, with 1,000 people entering.

And the event, part of the Peugeot Race Series, now has a new record time. Pierre Murchan (Dublin City Harriers) was first across the line in a time of 14:04, taking 10 seconds off the 14:14 set by Olympian Andrew Coscoran last year. It was the second win in the Series for Murchan, who also won the Streets of Portlaoise race on St Patrick’s Day.

Best finisher for the home club was Billy Coogan, who was ninth in a time of 14:59.

Fiona McKenna (UCD) was the first woman home in 16:46, but didn’t break the record of 15:48 which was set by Ide Nic Dhomhnaill last year. Castlecomer’s Lauren Dermody was sixth woman home in 17:36.

Kilkenny City Harriers delivered a top class race Picture: Vicky Comerford

Now in its seventh year the Streets has gone from strength to strength and continues to draw athletes of all abilities from all over Ireland.

“From the very start we said we wanted to bring the best of the best to Kilkenny, but we also wanted to open it up to everyone,” said race director Nicholas Dunphy. “We had plenty of people who were doing their first 5k tonight as part of a Couch to 5k programme. It was great to see them out there.”

See next week’s Kilkenny People for a picture special from the race.

Men’s Top 10

1 Pierre Murchan (Dublin City Harriers AC), 14:03; 2 Dylan Wright (Lucan Harriers AC), 14:39; 3 Shane Spring (Raheny Shamrock AC), 14:43; 4 Colin Maher (14:43); 5 Sean Cronin (Clonliffe Harriers AC), 14:52; 6 Gavin Curtin (Donore Harriers AC), 14:52; 7 Mossy Bracken (Moycarkey Coolcroo AC), 14:52; 8 Killian Mooney (Dundrum South Dublin AC), 14:56; 9 Billy Coogan (Kilkenny City Harriers AC), 14:59; 10 Zachary Dunne (City of Norwich AC), 15:03.

Women’s Top 10

1 Fiona McKenna (UCD), 16:46; 2 Hannah Steeds (Leevale AC), 16:50; 3 Dymphna Ryan (Dundrum AC), 16:56; 4 Liz Doran (17:00); 5 Maisy O’Sullivan (St Abbans AC), 17:04; 6 Lauren Dermody (Castlecomer AC), 17:36; 7 Nadine Forde (Leevale AC), 17:45; 8 Breffini Kelly (Clane AC), 17:47; 9 Sarah Mulligan (Dundrum South Dublin AC), 17:50; 10 Niamh Cunneen (Nenagh Olympic AC), 17:49.