Catherina McKiernan
Encyclopedia
Catherina McKiernan (born 30 November 1969 in Cornafean, County Cavan
) is a former long-distance runner from Ireland
, who competed in the marathon, 10,000 metres
and cross country.
McKiernan was blighted by injury for a large part of 1999 and 2000, which stalled her progress and forced her to miss the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney
, Australia
, but she helped commentate on the Games for Radio Telefís Éireann
the state broadcaster for Ireland. In November 2000 she married RTÉ radio presenter Damien O’Reilly. She won the 2004 Great Ireland Run
but a lack of fitness forced McKiernan to pull out of the 2004 Summer Olympics
, in Athens
, Greece
. Shortly after that she announced her retirement.
She was a highly successful cross country runner, collecting four world silver medal
s and a gold
at the European Cross Country Championships
during her career. She won the Belfast International Cross Country twice consecutively in 1992 and 1993, became the 1994 Eurocross
champion, and was also a two-time winner of Cross Internacional de Itálica
(one of Spain
's most prestigious meetings).
As well as appearing on the international stage Catherina has won national titles at:
She is the national record holder at the marathon distance with a time of 2 h 22 min 23 s
Instructor in Ireland. She teaches people the correct mechanics for running using the ChiRunning
method.
Website: [www.catherinamckiernan.com]
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
) is a former long-distance runner from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, who competed in the marathon, 10,000 metres
Long-distance track event
Long-distance track event races require runners to balance their energy. These types of races are predominantly aerobic in nature and at the highest level, exceptional levels of aerobic endurance is required more than anything else...
and cross country.
McKiernan was blighted by injury for a large part of 1999 and 2000, which stalled her progress and forced her to miss the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, but she helped commentate on the Games for Radio Telefís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
the state broadcaster for Ireland. In November 2000 she married RTÉ radio presenter Damien O’Reilly. She won the 2004 Great Ireland Run
Great Ireland Run
The Great Ireland Run is an annual 10-kilometre road running competition which is held in Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland in mid-April. It is part of the Great Run series of athletics competitions and it also holds IAAF Bronze Label Road Race status...
but a lack of fitness forced McKiernan to pull out of the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Shortly after that she announced her retirement.
She was a highly successful cross country runner, collecting four world silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
s and a gold
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
at the European Cross Country Championships
European Cross Country Championships
The European Cross Country Championships is an annual international cross country running competition. Organised by the European Athletic Association, it is the area championships for the region and is held in December each year...
during her career. She won the Belfast International Cross Country twice consecutively in 1992 and 1993, became the 1994 Eurocross
Eurocross
Eurocross is an annual international cross country running competition which takes place in Diekirch, Luxembourg in February. It is one of the IAAF permit meetings which serve as qualifying events for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships....
champion, and was also a two-time winner of Cross Internacional de Itálica
Cross Internacional de Itálica
The Cross Internacional de Itálica is an annual cross country running competition that is held every January in Santiponce, near Seville, Spain. Inaugurated in 1982, the race course is set in the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Itálica...
(one of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
's most prestigious meetings).
Achievements
- 1992
- World Cross Country Championships1992 IAAF World Cross Country ChampionshipsThe 20th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on March 21, 1992 in Boston, United States.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- External links :**...
silver medal
- World Cross Country Championships
- 1993
- World Cross Country Championships1993 IAAF World Cross Country ChampionshipsThe 21st IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on March 28, 1993 in Amorebieta, Spain.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- External links :**...
silver medal
- World Cross Country Championships
- 1994
- World Cross Country Championships1994 IAAF World Cross Country ChampionshipsThe 22nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on March 26, 1994 in Budapest, Hungary.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- External links :**...
silver medal - European Cross Country Championships1994 European Cross Country ChampionshipsThe 1st European Cross Country Championships were held at Alnwick in England on 10 December 1994. Paulo Guerra took the title in the men's competition and Catherina McKiernan won the women's race.-Men individual 9.5 km:Total 103 competitors-Men teams:...
gold medal
- World Cross Country Championships
- 1995
- World Cross Country Championships1995 IAAF World Cross Country ChampionshipsThe 23rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on 25 March 1995 in Durham, England.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- External links :**...
silver medal
- World Cross Country Championships
- 1997
- World Cross Country Championships1997 IAAF World Cross Country ChampionshipsThe 25th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held on 23 March 1997 in Turin, Italy.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- External links :**...
team bronze medal - Berlin MarathonBerlin MarathonThe Berlin Marathon is a major running and sporting event held annually in Berlin, Germany. The official marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers is set up as a city-wide road race where professional athletes and amateur runners jointly participate...
winner (fastest ever debut marathon by a woman) - Dublin Women's Mini MarathonDublin Women's Mini MarathonThe Dublin Women's Mini Marathon is an annual charity road race that occurs each June bank holiday Monday in Ireland...
winner
- World Cross Country Championships
- 1998
- London MarathonLondon MarathonThe London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
winner - Amsterdam MarathonAmsterdam MarathonThe Amsterdam Marathon is an annual marathon race over the classic distance of 42.195km held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands since 1975. It is one of the top ten marathons in the world.-History:...
winner - Dublin Women's Mini MarathonDublin Women's Mini MarathonThe Dublin Women's Mini Marathon is an annual charity road race that occurs each June bank holiday Monday in Ireland...
winner - Lisbon Half MarathonLisbon Half MarathonFirst held in 1991, the race has consistently delivered fast winning times. However, many of these times have been unratifiable for record purposes due to factors including: the course being too short , excessive tailwinds, as well as there being an excessive drop in altitude, which boosted...
winner.
- London Marathon
- 1999
- Dublin Women's Mini MarathonDublin Women's Mini MarathonThe Dublin Women's Mini Marathon is an annual charity road race that occurs each June bank holiday Monday in Ireland...
winner - Paris Half MarathonParis Half MarathonParis Half Marathon is an annual half marathon held every March in Paris, France. It currently holds IAAF Bronze Label status....
winner.
- Dublin Women's Mini Marathon
- 2004
- Dublin Women's Mini MarathonDublin Women's Mini MarathonThe Dublin Women's Mini Marathon is an annual charity road race that occurs each June bank holiday Monday in Ireland...
winner
- Dublin Women's Mini Marathon
As well as appearing on the international stage Catherina has won national titles at:
-
- 3000m (4): 1990-1993
- 5000m (1): 1996
- cross country (3): 1990-1992
She is the national record holder at the marathon distance with a time of 2 h 22 min 23 s
ChiRunning
She is now a qualified Master ChiRunningChiRunning
ChiRunning is a method of running instruction, developed by , an American Ultramarathon runner and t'ai chi practitioner. Its primary focus is to teach runners to move in a more efficient, natural way...
Instructor in Ireland. She teaches people the correct mechanics for running using the ChiRunning
ChiRunning
ChiRunning is a method of running instruction, developed by , an American Ultramarathon runner and t'ai chi practitioner. Its primary focus is to teach runners to move in a more efficient, natural way...
method.
Website: [www.catherinamckiernan.com]