It was a day to remember as thousands took part in the Waterford Viking Marathon on Sunday.
The 10th annual event saw over 2,000 runners participate in the race that took in two bridges, the Waterford Greenway, and a party finish at Grattan Quay.
There was sense of excitement as organisers and participants returned to the first live event since 2019, while the option to participate in a virtual marathon was also available from June 24th to June 27th.
At 9am runners left the Mall in the heart of Waterford’s Viking Triangle after a warm up and send off by Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr Joe Kelly.
Marathon winners
With a time of 2.30.4, the Clonliffe Harriers man Tudor Moldovan was the overall Winner of Waterford’s Viking Marathon 2022. He was followed in seccond place by Waterford AC’s Noel Murphy just over four minutes later, with Myles Gibbons in third, 11 minutes adrift of the winner.
Dolores Duffy was the fastest women home in a time of 3.18.04 wearing the singlet for Watergrass Hill, with Susan Gannon crossing the line 13 minutes later.
Olha Perverzieva, third, was greeted with a rapturous applause from her Ukrainian supporters. Olha from Mariupol was evacuated in March earlier this year due to the war. She'd been an avid runner in Ukraine, having ran the Kiev marathon last year. There was emotional tears of joy as she crossed the line in her adoptive city.
The men’s half marathon was won by Peter Brandon Somba in a time of 1.10.12. Trevor Power followed him just five minutes later in 1.16.02, and Raivis Zakis was third for Waterford AC in 1.16.34.
Pauline O Callaghan was the fastest woman in1.28.40 with Megan McCarthy and Alanna Quinn claiming second and third.
The quarter marathon was narrowly claimed by Sergiu Ciobanu for Clonliffe Harriers with Ferrybank’s Craig O Brien just 21 seconds off his pace. Ferrybank’s Lousie Morgan was the fastest women home for the quarter setting a time of 41.30 with Janet Quinlan and Siobhan Heylin taking second and third places.
All around team effort
The event was deemed a huge success, thanks in no small part to the committee and teams of volunteers. 350 helpers lined the route, with marshals, water stations and medical personnel ensuring the safe return of all runners to Grattan Quay.
Waterford Viking Marathon 2022 was proudly supported by WLR, Waterford Council, Eirgen Pharma , TEVA, DG Foods, INFOSSYS, JOMA Sports, House of Waterford Crystal, Full of Beans, Alfie Hales, Mag 365, Blue Butterfly Coffee, Flahavans & Spirit Leisure Centre.
With special thanks to Clem Jacob Hire, MacTrans Freight, Every Event, Waterford Civil Defence, Waterford Endodontics and University Hospital Waterford for their continued support.
A memorable event created not only by the heroics of the participants but by a sense of Waterford taking the 2022 Waterford Viking Marathon to its heart, Waterford certainly is the Best Place to Live, and a great place to Run.
For race results and more, you can visit the Waterford Viking Marathon website.
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