Armstrong leads the way as Mayo makes its mark in Dublin Marathon
The Mayo athlete was the first Irish finisher in the Marathon while Armstrong finished in eight place overall
Over the weekend, there was great joy in the capital as Mayo man Hugh Armstrong finished as the first Irishman across the line in the Dublin Marathon, producing an outstanding performance to underline his credentials as one of the country's leading long-distance runners.
The 32-year old North Mayo native recorded a hugely impressive time of two hours and 14 minutes over the 42km course, maintaining an average pace of approximately 3:10 per kilometre throughout the gruelling distance.
Representing Ballina A.C, Armstrong finished eighth overall in a remarkable achievement, securing the honour of being the fastest Irish athlete in the field. His performance was a source of enormous pride for his native Mayo, with the former footballer continuing to make his mark on the sporting stage through his dedication to athletics.
Armstrong finished ahead of fellow Irish competitors Killian Mooney, who crossed the line in 2:15:44, and Stephen McAuley, who recorded a time of 2:16:37. Meanwhile, the overall winner, Ethiopia's Abay Alemu Lesa, claimed victory in an impressive time of 2:10:28.
A former footballer with Knockmore, Armstrong has maintained his strong sporting connections to Mayo, and his performance in Dublin ensured that the county was once again represented with distinction on the national stage.
Inspired by Mayo’s All-Ireland football triumph this year, the 32-year-old was determined to win a title of his own for his county. “I raced for the Irish title. I tried to be patient, didn't push too hard early on, especially up through the park, and just feeling that into the teeth of that wind was tough. It probably is the pinnacle for me. To win a national title would be up there, and the marathon title is probably one of the toughest and highest-profile ones to win.”
Reflecting on the All-Ireland football final Armstrong said: “There were guys I went to school with or played underage with who were out there playing, and that was the day I decided I'm going to go to Dublin and win it, I'll have my national title as well and I'll have my own cup to bring back.”
A record 19,190 participants took part in this year's marathon, including elite athletes, wheelchair participants and charity fundraisers while over €5 million was raised for charity.