North-west athlete named on Irish team for European Marathon Championships in Berlin

Breege Connolly, the north Leitrim native who runs for City of Derry AC, has been selected for this year's European Marathon Championships in Berlin in August, which run from August 7^th-12^th. Connolly, who took up athletics around 2005, was placed 76th at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in a time of 2:44:41. Last November, the Kinlough athlete set a new PB with a run of 2.37.26. Athletics Ireland has announced a five strong women's team for the Marathon event in Berlin. In form Connolly won the Larne Half Marathon earlier this year. She crossed the line in 1:17:52 to secure her third victory following wins in 2015 and 2009. The Leitrim native will be be joined by Breege's former North Belfast Harriers clubmate Gladys Ganiel, Mourne Runners AC's Laura Graham and the Leevale AC duo of Lizzie Lee and Claire McCarthy. Interestingly, the average age of the Irish team is 38. The Men's team will comprise of Clonliffe Harriers duo Sergio Ciobanu and Stephen Scullion, Raheny's Mick Clohisey, Rathfarnham WSAF's Sean Hehir, Annadale Striders' Paul Pollock and St. Malachy's Kevin Seaward. Connolly is a cousin of well-known Finn Valley athlete Teresa Doherty.