Martin Fagan scores historic success in Great Ireland Run

The smile said it all on Sunday afternoon as Mullingar's Martin Fagan strode to victory in the Great Ireland Run in Dublin.It may have taken him three days to get to the starting line and he may have still been suffering from jet lag, but he was armed with the knowledge he had just created a piece of athletics history. He had become the first Irish man ever to win the event, which also doubles as the National 10k Championship.Martin, thanks to the volcanic eruption in Iceland, got to Dublin just in the nick of time - and a considerable amount of dollars the poorer - but his determination meant that his number was always going to make a big impression.Fortunate to get the last transatlantic flight out of Boston on Friday night, the 26 year old, representing Mullingar Harriers Athletic Club always looked comfortable in the 10k event. Content to sit with the leaders in the early stages, the Arizona based athlete made his move at about the half way stage.Initially, Gary Thornton from Galway offered stiff resistance but Martin pulled away over the last couple of kilometres and eventually closed the finish in 29 minutes 15 seconds, some eighteen seconds ahead of Thornton with Meath's Andrew Ledwith in third.Martin's plans allow for a month's stay in Ireland where will prepare for two further road races, the Great Edinburgh Run on May 2 followed a fortnight later by the Great Manchester Run. Undoubtedly, he will be in the vanguard for both events, flying the flag for Mullingar and Westmeath.