Leevale athlete Claire McCarthy received the Cork City Sports Athlete of the month Award for October.  McCarthy finished a fantastic second at Dublin City Marathon where she  ran a gutsy race and had a great battle with Maria McCambridge throughout, eventually losing out to the Dublin woman by just half a minute. McCarthy’s time of 2:39.27 was all the more impressive given the less than ideal running conditions.

McCarthy  is part of Donie Walsh’s middle distance  training group in Leevale AC and trains with Lizzie Lee the September winner of the award. Both athletes are now sub 2:40:00 which is testament to Walsh’s coaching technique.

Chairman Tony O’Connell stated that Claire’s podium at the Dublin City Marathon was the first for a Cork Woman since Sonia O’Sullivan won the event in 2000. O’Connell acknowledged the on-going support of the awards sponsors, The River Lee Hotel, Evening Echo and 96FM/C103FM.