RECORD BREAKING FEET.

American runner Daniel takes victory in men's race | Limerick teen Ava first Irish female across line.

- PAT FLANAGAN

UP to a third-of-a-million spectators turned out yesterday to watch what was the biggest Irish Life Dublin City marathon with around 22,000 people taking part.

American Daniel Mesfin won the men's race while David McGlynn from Waterford was the first Irish athlete to finish coming home in fifth place.

Limerick teenager Ava Crean, who had never run competitively before her marathon debut just six months ago, was the first Irish female home.

She was sixth overall, in a personal best time 2:34.11 clinching the National Women's Title.

Catching her breath, she said: "I was like just keep pushing, just keep pushing.

"I just cut it down to each table, each 5km I just passed one, passed the next and the last 8km, my legs were dying.

"But I was like just keep going. I did it for my coach as well, I couldn't do it without my coach or my family or my friends.

"I saw my friends at the last 200m and they were just cheering and I can't... I have no words.

"My heart is still racing. My legs when there was 5km left to go I was like I might have to stop. I was getting cramps but they were coming and going and I just kept fighting.

"When I first started training for Dublin, I was like maybe a 2.39, a 2.38.

"My coach was amazing. He guided me through every step of the way and my nana's looking down at me as well.

So she guided me through."