The top Irish finishers at the 2003 Dublin Marathon which also doubled as the Irish National Marathon Championships were Gary Crossan (Letterkenny AC) who finished 6th overall in a time of 2:20:27 and Annette Kealy (Raheny Shamrocks) in 2:45:55 for 7th place in the women's race.

Kealy, who hails from Malahide, Co Dublin won her first Irish Championship in her marathon debut. Crossan, from Letterkenny, Co Donegal was the top Irish finisher in the 2002 Dublin Marathon (2:20:16) and the National Marathon Champion (Belfast - 2:24:20) as well.

Crossan commented, "I was always caught in no-man's land and couldn't quite make the jump back to the lead pack, but I'm pleased enough with my time today." Kealy had the glee of a first-time marathoner saying, "I dug in for the last few miles and was lucky enough to hang on. It's a very long run, but this is a beautiful course, very pretty, and I had great support all along the way."

Ruth Kutol, 30 from Kenya demolished the Dublin course record of 2:32:56 set last year by Lidia Vassilevskaia of Russia when she ran 2:27:22. In fact, first three women were all well inside the old record, with runner-up Russia's Yelena Burykina finishing in 2:28:10 and Zivile Baliucunaite from Lithuania in third place in 2:30:45. In the opening stages of the race, it was quartet with Russia's Alevtina Ivanova pushing the pace and it appeared early that last year's record would not survive. Kutol said afterwards, "It was a very tough course and I found it hard between the 9th and 12th mile but I am delighted with my time and I hope now I make the Olympics in Athens."

The men's race lacked the class and excitement of the women's affair. Despite the efforts of pacesetter Charles Kiplagat, the men's race was doomed to be a tactical affair. Jerry Kiernan would hold onto his record of 2:13:45 set in the 1982 edition for yet another year. With four kilometers remaining Lezan Kimutai made a move that would eventually be his undoing with only Onesmus Kilonzo staying by his side. Just after running on Northumberland Road, with less than a mile to go, Kilonzo passed Kimutai and kept going for victory running the final mile more than 20 seconds faster than his fading rival.

In the wheelchair race, Scotland's Kenny Herriott made it three in a row with a time of 1:42.54 - almost 10 minutes fastest than last year.

adidas Dublin Marathon - Monday 27th October 2003
Course Records
Men: Jerry Kiernan (Ireland) 2:13:45, 1982
Women: Lidia Vassilevskaia (Russia) 2:27:22, 2002

Men's Top 10: 1) Onesmus Kilonzo (Kenya) 2:17:04; 2) Kimutai Lezan (Kenya) 2:17:29; 3) David Kossgei (Kenya) 2:18:34; 4) Charles Kiplagat (Kenya) 2:18:38; 5) Simon Pride (Scotland) 2:18:52; 6) Gary Crossan (Ireland) 2:20:27; 7) Zacharia Mpolokeng (South Africa) 2:21:13; 8) Graham Malinga (South Africa) 2:22:06; 9) James Lawler (United Kingdom) 2:23:22; 10) Pauric McKinney (Ireland) 2:24:18

Women's Top 10: 1) Ruth Kutol (Kenya) 2:27:22 Course Record); 2) Yelena Burykina (Russia) 2:28:10; 3) Zivile Balciunaite (Lithuania) 2:30:45; 4) Alevtina Ivanova (Russia) 2:34:12; 5) Galina Aleksandrova (Russia) 2:36:08; 6) Svetlana Nekhorosh (Ukraine) 2:39:43; 7) Annette Kealy (Ireland) 2:42:55; 8) Lucy Brennan (Ireland) 2:43:36; 9) Deborah Sullivan (Great Britain) 2:44:55; 10) Lucy Hassell (Great Britain) 2:46:01