Gary O'Hanlon is National Marathon Champion 2017
Gary O’Hanlon Declared Irish National Marathon Champion 2017
Athletics Ireland Release - Feidhlim Kelly
Following a meeting of the Competition Committee of Athletics Ireland, on November 1st 2017, Gary O’Hanlon, Clonliffe Harriers AC, has been declared Irish National Marathon Champion 2017.
This follows receipt of information from Raheny Shamrock AC, on 31 October that Freddy Sittuk, the original declared winner of the championship, had not met the required criteria for eligibility, under the residency rule.
Prior to the event, Sittuk had been confirmed as eligible, by his club, when, in fact, he had not met all the necessary criteria.
Under the rule agreed by the delegates at the 2016 Athletics Ireland Congress, an athlete with an unbroken 6 months residency in Ireland immediately prior to the Championship, is eligible to compete for the National Championships title and medal positions.
Commenting on the situation, Athletics Ireland’s Competition Committee Chairman John Cronin said “the information initially received by the Association indicated that Freddy Sittuk was eligible and therefore he was deemed champion on Sunday.”
“Once we received information from the club stating that the athlete had not, in fact, met the criteria, the Committee met to discuss the situation, and Gary O’Hanlon has been deemed Marathon Champion”, he added.
“The process for confirming residency eligibility for National Championships has, up to this event, worked well, but the fact that Gary was not awarded this title and his gold medal on Sunday is very regrettable”, Cronin said. “We do, however, look forward to presenting Gary with his Championship title and medal shortly,” he added.
