Weekend recap: Irishman wins Halifax’s Blue Nose Marathon

The Blue Nose Marathon returned to its traditional date on the Victoria Day long weekend in Halifax for the first time in four years, and crowned two new champions. (In 2019 the race was run in June due to bridge construction.) In his first marathon across the pond, Nathan Ryan O’Hehir of Cork, Ireland, finished first overall in 2:42:27 and Aisling Owton of Victoria was the first woman to finish, in 3:34:02.

The conditions for Sunday’s race were around 15 C with fog and light rain, which made the champion feel right at home.

O’Hehir was left speechless after earning his first marathon victory in his ninth attempt at the distance. “That was the hardest race I’ve ever done,” he said to local media. “The hills down in Point Pleasant completely declined my speed. I can’t wait to come back to win it next year.”

Tim Fitzgerald of Sydney, N.S., was the second runner to finish, clocking 2:46:38 in his marathon debut. Michael Perczyszyn of Mississauga, Ont., who trains with Toronto’s Pace and Mind, came third in 2:51:27.

Owton, who recently moved to Halifax from Victoria for work, had no idea she had won the race. It wasn’t until 30 km that a spectator told her she was in second place. Gwendolyn Griffiths was the second woman to cross the line at her hometown race, six minutes behind Owton in 3:40:11. Petra Spires of Hubley, N.S., hit her Boston qualifying time and finished third, 11 seconds behind Griffiths in 3:40:22.

Twenty-two runners hit a 2023 Boston Marathon qualifying time at this year’s Blue Nose Marathon. Over 6,000 people participated in the race weekend, which also included a kid’s race, 5K, 10K and half marathon.

Ben Flanagan and Thomas Fafard take first and second in 5,000m at USATF Distance Classic

On May 19 at the USATF Distance Classic in Walnut, Calif, the reigning Canadian 10K champion, Ben Flanagan, won the men’s 5,000m in a season’s best time of 13:35.30, while Thomas Fafard of Repentigny, Que., finished second in 13:37.03, breaking his personal best set two weeks ago by just under a second.

Flanagan will race again this weekend in Ottawa as he plans to defend his 2021 Canadian 10K title on May 28.