Peter Somba (Dunboyne AC) took his third win of the Irish Life Dublin Race Series by taking an impressive victory in the Dublin Half Marathon at the Phoenix Park on Saturday.
On what was ideal morning for running, Somba took the lead from the start and was never significantly challenged.
The Kenyan born athlete looked strong throughout and crossed the line in a time of 1:07:35, some fourteen seconds clear of Portmarnock AC’s Graham Gilshinan.
Martin Hoare (Celbridge AC) who had finished third in the Frank Duffy 10 Mile during the summer settled for the same position on Saturday as he clocked a time of 1:08:42.
Somba’s victory means he is the only man to have ever won all four races in the series. His wins in the Frank Duffy 10 Mile and Fingal 10k this year along with a previous victory in the Tallaght 5 Mile ensured that he completed the set.
Peter Somba reacts to Dublin Half Marathon win
I’m very happy to win three of the four races in the Dublin Race Series.,” a delighted Somba said afterwards.
“It was a tough course, but I enjoyed it. I was in the lead from the start, but it was very hard. I’m looking forward to running the Dublin Marathon now.”
Barbara Cleary (Donore Harriers AC) was the first woman home in 1:18:14. The Clare born athlete had a very strong second half making up significant ground on Annadale Strider’s Caitlyn Harvey, before eventually taking the lead in the latter stages.
Harvey, who only took up running during the Covid-19 lockdown and is currently undertaking a PhD at Queens University, finished ten seconds behind the Donore athlete in what was her first ever half marathon.
Ultra-runner Jan Corcoran (Le Cheile AC) who herself only started running less than a decade ago knocked nearly three minutes off her personal best to take third, running a time of 1:20:40.
Cleary, who now turns her attention to the Valencia Marathon in December, was delighted to take the victory as she completed her comeback from a recent calf injury.
“I’m delighted now, I didn’t even think I’d break one hour twenty minutes today so I’m really happy.
“I had a very good first half, nice and controlled, and then I was able to really speed up in the second
half and catch Caitlyn there at the end.
“It was great having her there, it probably made my time a bit faster in the end,” she said.
