Leevale's Martin McCarthy ran 2.18.44 at the Berlin Marathon in Germany on 28th September. McCarthy, the reigning Irish Inter Clubs Cross Country Champion placed 27th in this, his marathon debut. McCarthy's splits for the marathon were 15.47 (5k), 31.34 (10k), 47.19 (15k), 1.03.35 (20k), 1.07.01 (half-marathon), 1.35.57 (30k) and 2.10.31 for 40k.

Vinny Mulvey (Raheny Shamrocks) competed in his first race in almost a year. Mulvey placed 2nd in the Eliot Festival Day 5k road race held in Eliot, Maine on September 27th. He ran a respectable time of 14.41. The Iona College grad came back to America to train in late August and plans to run a few cross country races before competing in the Intercounties in Ireland in late November. Cain Williams from Providence, Rhode Island won the race in 14.29.

Cobh's Sonia O'Sullivan placed 5th running 1.08.40 at the BUPA Great North Run held from Newcastle to South Shields, England on Sunday, 22nd September. But the big story was Paula Radcliffe. Mark Butler described her 1.05.40 winning performance, "The Rose of the Roads set off like a woman hell bent on a fast time, or on running the finish out of the opposition." Radcliffe's intermediate times, which would win most races held at that distance, included 5k (15.26), 10k (31.18), 15k (46.41) and 20k (1.02.21). James Nolan (UCD) placed 10th in the Great North Road Mile held at Newcastle Quayside running 4.09.7. Brit Michael East won the event in 4.03.8. Raheny's Richard Corcoran placed 5th in the Junior Mile in 4.22.2. Azmera Gebrezgi ran 5:06.4 for 3rd in the women's Junior Mile with Fionnuala Britton in 5th at 5.14.6.

Gearoid O'Connor (Rathfarnham) ran 19.49 to win the Rockford Rooftile 4m (Stage 3 Tinryland Autumn Series), Tinryland on 21st September. Mark Kenneally (Raheny Shamrock) was 2nd in 19.55 with Peter Matthews continuing to race himself into form in 3rd place with a time of 19.59. Catherina McKiernan (Annalea) won the women's race in 21.34 with Pauline Curley the runner-up in 21.59.

Paul Freary and Annette Kealy won the individual titles at the adidas BHAA (Business Houses Athletic Association) Half-Marathon held at the Phoenix Park in Dublin on 20th September. Kealy, from Raheny Shamrock AC ran 1.17.21 while Freary (Belgrave Harriers) ran 1.07.00; just eight seconds clear of Gary Crossan. Rounding out the top five for the men were David Brady (3rd, 1.11.54), Pat Heffernan (4th, 1.12.30) and Gerry Hickson in 5th at 1.12.34. Louise McGrillen was the 2nd woman in 1.29.25 with Maurice McCrohan 3rd in 1.29.27, Tracey Guilfoyle (4th, 1.29.59) and Emma Riggs placed 5th in 1.30.56.

James Nolan and Catriona McKienan took the honours at the Rathfarnham 5K Road Race held on 14th September. James Nolan had a captivating dual with Corkman Martin McCarthy to win the top prize in the men's race. Nolan was coming a track season with an impressive personal best in the mile whereas McCarthy was tuning up for the Berlin Marathon - a fortnight away. Last year's winner Noel Berkley (DSD) was third. In the women's race, Catherina McKiernan edged Rosemary Ryan and Paula Curley.

The annual Avia Cork half marathon, promoted by St. Finbarrs athletic club, was held on Sunday, 14th September over a course that brought runners out towards Mallow and back. Weather conditions were ideal, with temperatures in the high teens, about six degrees higher than is normal for this time of year, according to Met Eireann. John Griffin from Tralee Harriers got off to a great start, and had moved clear of the field long before the four mile mark. chasing him at that stage was Philip Harty from Waterford, a clear second, with a group of six running together some thirty metres further back. Griffin showed no sign of slowing, but Harty faded badly in the next couple of miles, while Derek O'Leary of St. Finbarrs and Pat Heffernan from Tipperary moved past him to fight out the minor placings. There were no further major changes in the closing miles with Griffin winning in a time of 71 minutes, and Heffernan finishing strongly to take second in 73:45, four seconds clear of O'Leary in third. Gary O'Sullivan from Grange Fermoy finished fourth in 7:14, with Finbarr Kirwan of Eagle fifth in 75:38, and Harty sixth in 76:19. Maureen Foley won the women's race in a time of 88:38, with Mary Murphy of St. Finbarrs second in 92:25 and Denise Twohig of St. Finbarrs third in 93:20. 267 runners completed the race. Thanks to Leevale's Der O'Donovan for this report.

Sonia O'Sullivan ran 15.24 to place 3rd at the Flora Light Challenge for Women 5k held in Hyde Park, London on Sunday, 14th September. Paula Radcliffe ran a World Best 14.51 to win the event. Radcliffe's kilometre splits were 2:58; 3:00; 2:58; 2:57 and 2:58.

Jim Stafford (Slaney Olympics) and Ann Sullivan (DMP) continued their good form on the road in Tinryland 4 mile on 10th September. Ann was second lady in a time of 24.07 while Jim was third veteran home in 21.55. Tommy McElwaine of SBR was 9th in the senior men's race with a time of 21 minutes and DMP were third team.

Dubliner Aidan Walsh placed 5th in the Fifth Avenue Mile held in New York on Sunday, 7th September. The Farleigh Dickinson University grad covered the downhill distance in 4.05.

Marie McMahon Davenport showed she was fit despite missing the World Championship's 10k due to an untimely illness by winning the CVS Pharmacy Downtown 5k road race held in Providence, Rhode Island on September 7th. Davenport clocked 15.24 on the relatively flat but winding course. Corkman Kieran Stack who recently entered the Masters V40 category placed 6th in that classification and 65th overall in 16.02.

Sonia O'Sullivan ran 33.09 to place 2nd at the Nike Run London 10k on Sunday, 7th September. Paula Radcliffe won in 30.51 - her first race back since bronchitis and a sore shin kept her from competing at Paris World Championships.

Tom McGrath competing for Zurich Bank and Eleanor Threadgold (Primary Teachers) won the City Swift 10-miler on 6th September in 52.41 and 64.03 respectively.

Cian McGloughlin (Clonliffe Harriers) won the Irish National Half-Marathon Championship in 1.06.14 with Tom Carey (Limerick AC) more than a minute adrift in second (1.07.19) and Gary Crossan getting third in 1.08.38. Claire Gibbons, from Leevale won the women's title in 1.17.35 in Dungarvan, Co Waterford on 31st August.