Declan on top of the world after 10K Masters victory

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According to Declan his journey to becoming a World Champion was helped massively by what he learned during his two previous international championships.

“Having returned to running a few years back I began to take it seriously again and I competed in my first Masters championships at the Europeans in Venice in 2019. I finished fourth, in a race that was won by my fellow North East Runner Maurice McMahon, and although I was disappointed with that I learned a hell of a lot that day. Last year I competed in the European Road Championships and finished third in Rome which gave me a lot of confidence. Coming into the Worlds this year I knew going through the times of my competitors that I was in with a medal chance and I went there aiming for gold,” explained Declan.

“When the race started the Mexican guy went off really fast and I let him go as I knew he was going too fast. I stayed patient and caught him at about 8k where I sat on his shoulder until the final kilometer. I kicked for home and knew straight away he hadn’t much left. I kicked again just to make sure and it was a magical feeling being able to enjoy the final hundred metres knowing I had it won.

“It was a really special feeling to get back to Ireland and have my family all there waiting for me. My wife Fiona and our kids Conor, Amy and Hannah were all there to welcome me as well as all my sisters and my Mam and Dad. And then when we got back to Dundalk my neighbours and friends were all there to welcome me home which was really nice.

“Running has always been a passion of mine and I was pretty decent as a teenager winning an All Ireland Cross Country Novice Cham- pionship at 19. I gave it all up at 23 though as I was getting sick after races and I was doing shift work so something had to give. I’m really delighted that I made the decision to get back on the track and I really have to thank everybody at the North East Runners for helping and inspiring me. They are a great group and it’s a pleasure running with them. I also have to thank the great Feidhlim Kelly who is a Dublin coach that I have been working with over the last couple of years and he has really helped me get to the stage where I can call myself a world champion,” stated Declan.

“I grew up watching my Dad play for the Clans and Louth and my sister Denise was a brilliant runner, much better than me, so you could say the love of sport runs in the family,” laughs Declan. Declan leaves rival Luciano