Mayo woman takes silver in Melbourne Marathon

Sinéad Diver was back in action today (Sunday) competing in the Melbourne Marathon. She finished in a brilliant second place in the women’s race in 2:28.49.

Sinéad has lived in Mebourne since 2002 and her hometown marathon course is a happy hunting ground for the Belmullet native and Mayo AC member.

In her debut marathon there in 2014 she finished second-placed woman in a time of 2:34:15. And she won the 2018 marathon in 2:25.17 In 2022, Sinead ran 2:21:34 at the Valencia Marathon in what was then an Australian record and which remains the fastest time run by an Irish-born woman. She has represented Australia since 2015.

The women’s race in Melbourne was won by Camille French from New Zealand, who clocked 2:28:25. Meath native Nichola Sheridan (Bohermeen AC), now also based in Australia, finished third in her best marathon time to date in 2:29.13.

The men’s race was won by two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge Kenya in 2:09.10 – a course record – for his 17th career win over the distance and first since the Berlin Marathon in 2023.

The course was partly raced along the Australian Formula One track at Albert Park and finished inside Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).