Dublin Marathon: Dundrum's Linda Byrne qualified for London 2012 in her first ever marathon when finishing sixth in Dublin this morning. The former DCU student posted a time of two hours, 36 minutes and 21 seconds, leaving her inside the 2:37.00 cut-off point for the Olympic games.
Byrne, who admitted to being "absolutely shocked" and "delighted" after the race, also took the Irish women's title. She finished six minutes behind 31-year-old race-winner Helalia Johannes (2:30.35) from Namibia, while Kenyan Emily Rotich (2:32.10) and Ethiopian Radiya Adilo (2:32.22) took second and third respectively.
It was the first marathon Byrne had ever completed. The 25-year-old registered and ran in last year's event but pulled out three-quarters of the way through in accordance with her training routine.
In the men's race, Kenyan Geoffrey Ndungu set a new record when he completed the route in 2:08.32, smashing the benchmark set last year by his compatriot Moses Kibet by 24 seconds.
The returning champion finished fifth, while fellow Kenyans Chepkwony Gilbert Kiptoo (2:09.52) and Jacob Yator (2:10.23) were second and third.
Like Johanes, Ndungu will collect €15,000 for winning the race, but he will receive an additional €5,000 for the new record.
Ireland's Seán Connolly led the home challenge into 12th position in a time of 2:18.52, which was just outside the qualification standard (2:15.00) for London 2012.
Connolly said he "felt horrendous" at the four or five mile mark, but was glad he "stuck it out". He added that the conditions were not there for an olympic qualification time, saying that they met a "stiff wind" early on.
The first of the wheelchair athletes home was Co Armagh man Paul Hannon in a time of 2:20.38.