Thomas Maguire - Irish 100k Record Holder

Two-time Connemara Ultramarathon Champion (2005 & 2006) Thomas Maguire from Fermanagh produced one of the best Irish athletic performances of the year last Sunday in Korea at the IAU World 100k Championships. Thomas was the sole Irish representative amongst the cream of international ultra-distance runners at this championship. This was only his second competitive effort over this grueling distance, having formerly represented Ireland at the IAU European Championships in Belgium earlier this year. Thomas’s run in Belgium had established a new Irish for 100k on the roads of 7:42:24 which was good enough for 29th place overall on that occasion.

Thomas travelled to Korea having trained harder than ever before and with dreams of improving on his debut time and perhaps placing among the top thirty in the world. As it worked out the Irishman removed over thirty-eight minutes from his own national mark and propelled himself into the top eschelons of international ultra-distance running. This was a performance of true quality as Thomas battled through the heat and humidity of the Korean venue at a pace of six minutes and fifty seconds per mile for over sixty-two miles. His twelvth placing overall represents the best international performance of an ultra-distance athlete for many, many years.

Ray O'Connor of the Connemara Marathon was one of the first to send congratulations to Thomas by email when he returned to Ireland on Monday adding that he couldn't wait to see Thomas return to defend his crown around the roads of Connemara next spring.

We all send our congratulations to Thomas on such an outstanding championships.

Final results - Male (Official Times)

1 FRA Djouadi Yannick 121 6:38:41

2 RUS Kharitonov Oleg 171 6:42:18

3 RUS Zhalybin Denis 172 6:42:18

4 FRA Bachelier Christophe 125 6:48:43

5 USA Nippert Howard 183 6:53:00

6 RUS Izmailov Alexei 174 6:53:35

7 GER Sommer Michael 126 6:57:01

8 NZL Lukes Martin 163 6:58:11

9 JPN Nojo Hideo 141 6:59:46

10 FRA Barcza Sandor 123 7:01:40

11 ITA Calcaterra Giorgio 134 7:04:15

12 IRL Maguire Thomas 130 7:05:06

13 AUS Blake Jonathan 103 7:05:54

14 ITA Ardemagni Mario 131 7:06:30

15 RUS Tyazhkorob Igor 173 7:07:47

16 JPN Shinohara Mitsuru 143 7:09:13

17 GER Hoob Jorg 127 7:09:28

18 ITA Boffo Marco 133 7:12:44

19 JPN Kobayashi Yoshiaki 139 7:13:48

20 GER Kersten Sven 129 7:14:40

21 RUS Spiridonov Vasily 176 7:16:38

22 BEL Papanikitas Marc 105 7:16:54

23 AUS Benson Darren 102 7:17:35

24 ITA Fattore Mario 136 7:22:30

25 JPN Miyaji Toshiyuki 191 7:24:33

26 GER Konig Thomas 128 7:27:04