Ethiopia's Abay Alemu Lesa won the Irish Life Dublin Marathon on Sunday in 2:10:28, holding off Sweden's Ebba Chala, who finished second in 2:10:36. Sahlesilassie Nigussie of Ethiopia was third in 2:11:25. The race was the 45th running of the event, which had sold out its field of around 22,500 runners, and RTÉ reported a record number of finishers and more than €5 million raised for charity.
The women's race was an Ethiopian one-two-three. Zenebu Fikadu Jebesa won in 2:24:26, ahead of Tenebeb Nega Aynalem in 2:25:50 and Sechele Dalasa Adunga in 2:27:22. In the wheelchair race, Ireland's Patrick Monahan won in 1:46:03 for the ninth time.
The most dramatic race of the day was for the Irish women's title. Sorcha Nic Dhómhnaill of West Limerick AC led for most of the distance and was more than 90 seconds clear at halfway. Judith Storm of City of Derry Spartans AC started conservatively, ran a negative split and caught the leader in the final 400 metres, just before the Pepper Canister Church, to win in 2:35:46. Nic Dhómhnaill held on for second in 2:35:58.
Meghan Ryan of Dundrum South Dublin AC completed the women's podium in 2:40:47. A margin of 12 seconds after more than two and a half hours of racing made it a tight finish, and Storm's patient approach after letting the early leader go paid off.
In the Irish men's championship, Hugh Armstrong of Ballina AC won in 2:14:51, finishing eighth overall. Killian Mooney of Dundrum South Dublin AC was second in 2:15:44 and Stephen McAuley of Letterkenny AC third in 2:16:37. Attention now turns to the TCS New York City Marathon on 1 November.