Marie McMahon Davenport continued her stellar performances with a brilliant win in the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) Half-Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts on October 12th. Davenport covered the tough, hilly 21.1-kilometres in a course record time of 1.10.57.

With such an impressive time in the half-marathon, it would be logical to assume that a race at the full distance would be next up for the Irish Olympian from Ennistymon, Co. Clare. Davenport put all speculation to rest when she told Peter Gambaccini of Runner's World Online who asked that very question saying, "Definitely not! I definitely feel I have some unfinished business on the track. I'd like to try and get some good times at 5000 and 10,000. The marathon would be the ultimate goal after next year."

Marie McMahon Davenport dominated the Ro-Jack's Run 5 Miler held on October 5th in Attleboro, Massachusetts winning the event in 25.46, a blistering 5.09/mile pace.

It was the fastest time run here since Catherine Ndereba, the reigning Marathon World Champion set the course record (25.17) in 1998 and a 40 second improvement for Davenport on her best on this course despite strong winds for the last mile - she passed four miles at 20.20.

Davenport (Marian AC) won by more than minute and a half over fellow Providence grad Stephanie O'Reilly who placed second 27.22. Orla O'Mahoney placed 5th in 28.06 with 2003 PC grad Emer O'Shea running 29.30 for 13th spot.

Kenyan Joseph Mwai won the men's race in 23.07 with Paul Reilly from Providence College via Loughrea, Co Galway in 6th in a time of 24.24.

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.

She beat some top names including Leah Malot (Kenya), Lyudimila Biktasheva (Russia), Kathy Butler (Great Britain), Maya Nishio (Japan), Victoria Klimina (Russia), Atalelech Ketema (Ethiopia) and Elana Meyer (South Africa).

Davenport told Mike Scott of the Running USA Wire, "I thought I was in second! I had gone out controlled and never saw another woman. At the mile [4.46], I knew I was running fast but I didn't know I was in the lead until just before the finish when the announcer said it over the speakers. I've always wanted to win this race - I used to volunteer here back when I was running for Providence College."