Aoife Cooke Runs 55:17 in Mallow 10 2019 – Guest Article by John Walshe
John Walshe's Prespective on Aoife Cooke's Superb 10 Mile Time
Guest Article by John Walshe
Aoife Cooke, Youghal AC, captured in full flight at 9 Mile mark, in the 2019 Mallow 10 - Photo: Derek Costello
Aoife Cooke’s time of 55:17 for 10 miles in last Sunday's Mallow 10, makes her the second fastest Cork woman on the all-time list, after Sonia O’Sullivan. Sonia's set the record in Portsmouth UK, on September 8th 2002
The fastest 10 Mile time by an Irishwoman during 2018 was 56:47, set by DSD AC's Laura Shaughnessy, in the 2018 Dungarvan 10. Aoife recently equalled this, in tough and windy weather conditions in the Duhallow 10, just two weeks ago, on March 10th. So to run a minute-and-half faster just two weeks later amounts to a superb performance.
Leevale AC's Lizzie Lee’s average pace in her half-marathon best of 73:19, set in Barcelona last year, equates to a time of around 55:55 for 10 miles, although in the National Half-Marathon of 2015 in the Phoenix Park – which she won in 73:27 – Lee went though 10 miles in 55:40.
In the entire history of the Ballycotton ‘10’, only one woman, Maria McCambridge, DSD AC, ran faster than 55:17. It should be noted, however, that she did it on three occasions - 54:20 (2015), 54:48 (2012), and 55:01 (2013).
Although the 10-mile distance is not as prevalent in the UK as it was in the past, only three women, Eilish McColgan, Alyson Dixon and Steph Twell, ran faster than Aoife Cooke’s time in all of 2018.
To put everything into perspective – the fastest ever Irish woman over 10 miles is Sonia O’Sullivan, who ran 51:00 at the Great South Run in 2002. At the time, this was a world best, and it still remains as the tenth fastest on the women's world all-time 10 Mile listings.
Top 10 - Final Irish Men's and Women's 10 Mile Road Race Performances 2018
Related Articles on Aoife Cooke
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Other Guest Articles by John Walshe
50 Years Ago - When John Buckley Beat The Olympic Champion – Guest Article by John Walshe
Munster Cross-Country of 1989 – Guest Article by John Walshe
Steeplechase Legends Meet at Antrim International – Guest Article by John Walshe
Aidan Hogan - Ultra-Athlete – Guest Article by John Walshe
RUNNING FOR BETTER – Guest Article by John Walshe
Cork to Cobh 40 Years Ago - Guest Article by John Walshe
Unique National Double for McGraths - Guest Article by John Walshe
Dick Hooper Speaks at St Finbarrs AC Function - Guest Article by John Walshe
