Previous two-time winner Nataliya Lehonkova of Ukraine will head the
elite women's field at the 2022 Irish Life Dublin Marathon. In 2017 she set
a personal best (PB) of 2:28.58 to win the Dublin Marathon, having also won
in 2015. Lehonkova has been training in Austria after fleeing the war
and will be looking to become a three-time winner when she toes the line on
Sunday, 30th October.
The 39-year-old will face competition from a strong line-up of athletes,
including Nigist Muluneh of Ethiopia, who has shown good form this year,
running a personal best (PB) of 2:29.37 in Madrid in April. This will be
Muluneh's first time running the Dublin Marathon. Also in the field is
fellow Ethiopian, Hawi Alemu Negeri, who has the fastest PB in the field
with 2:27.56 and ran 2:28.03 this year at the Riyadh Marathon (Saudi Arabia)
in March.
Ireland's Ann-Marie McGlynn will be vying not only to take the national
marathon title but also to be in the mix with the top international elite
athletes. At the 2019 Dublin Marathon, she placed ninth overall in 2:32.54,
finishing second in the National Championships behind Aoife Cooke.
McGlynn will be joined by Gladys Ganiel (North Belfast Harrier), who won
the 2022 Belfast Marathon. Ganiel also placed third in the 2019 and 2021
National Marathon Championships. Kate Purcell (Raheny AC) is also one to
watch; she won the Irish Life Dublin Race Series 10 mile and is an avid
mountain runner, having helped Ireland win team bronze at the 2013 World
Mountain Running Championships. The Irish Life Dublin Marathon will be her
second-ever marathon. 23-year-old, Courtney McGuire (Clonmel AC) will make
her marathon debut after finishing second at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon,
running 73.54.
There will be over €100,000 in prize money on offer, national titles in
senior men and women, master categories and team prizes.
