Local Ryan O’Shea PBs despite mid-race stop, wins 2017 Fredericton Marathon

Defending his Fredericton Marathon title wasn’t a lock for Ryan O’Shea at the 25K mark on Sunday.

Battling a nasty side stitch, the 2016 champion was forced to stop and let a two- to three-minute gap form between him and Jean-Marc Dorion, who was in second at the time. As the stitch subsided, O’Shea was able to overcome the deficit to set a two-minute personal best. Dorion ended up third with Greg Sawyer splitting the two in 2:41:26. (The men’s course record is 2:34:46 by Chris Brake.)

O’Shea, of New Maryland, N.B., ran 2:37:59 on what was a gorgeous day in Atlantic Canada with little wind and temperatures around 15 C by the late morning. In 2016, O’Shea ran 2:39:23. “The support out on course was amazing,” he says citing spectators with megaphones and cheers from fellow runners on the out-and-back sections.

As O’Shea is from New Brunswick, his overall win also doubles as a provincial championship.

In the women’s race, Heather O’Donnell of Meadowvale, N.S. paced her marathon to perfection splitting 1:31:54 through the halfway point winning in 3:03:39. In second was Stephanie Myles in 3:11:14 followed by Kyla Gillis in 3:21:10. Paula Keating holds the women’s course record in 2:53:57 and this year Keating ran the 10K, finishing fifth in 39:31.

Annie Pellerin, who was fifth overall, was the first New Brunswick woman across the line as part of the provincial marathon championships.

Heather O'Donnell of Meadowvale N.S. claims women's marathon @FtonMarathon title #FtonMarathon2017

— Fredericton Marathon (@FtonMarathon) May 14, 2017

The Fredericton Marathon, the oldest 42K in New Brunswick, celebrated its 39th anniversary in 2017. The marathon comes on the second day of race weekend as a youth fun run went off on Saturday. Today, Fredericton hosted a 5K, 10K, half-marathon along with the popular Boston Marathon qualifier.

Today's results can be found at @AtlanticChip https://t.co/AJhw78ZzL3 #FtonMarathon2017

— Fredericton Marathon (@FtonMarathon) May 14, 2017

It’s a busy couple of weeks in the Maritimes as the Blue Nose Marathon in Halifax is next weekend. O’Donnell is the defending Blue Nose Marathon champion.

Social media shots

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