Homecoming celebration for Ava Crean following Dublin Marathon win

Ava Crean received a surprise homecoming celebration from her Back2Boston teammates at Castletroy Town Centre

Ava Crean received a surprise homecoming celebration from her Back2Boston teammates at Castletroy Town Centre following her Dublin Marathon success

Limerick’s Ava Crean received a hero’s return as her Back2Boston teammates organised a surprise celebratory homecoming for the Dublin Marathon winner at the Castletroy Town Centre.

The 19-year-old runner from Limerick became the youngest ever national female champion at the Dublin Marathon when she finished with a personal best of 2:34:11.

Ava was one of 22,500 entrants who took part in the 44th Dublin Marathon, finishing sixth overall, and her story has inspired many others as she shared how her journey into the sport began during lockdown, when she said she could only manage 500m at a time.

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As a celebration from her Back2Boston teammates, the sports and exercise science student from Mungret, Co. Limerick, currently studying at University Academy 92 in Manchester, thinking she was on her way to a training session, was asked by her coach, John Kinsella, to stop by the SuperValu for a sports drink.

In a video shared on Instagram, the runner’s reaction when leaving the store and seeing the support from her teammates, friends, and family is a truly heartwarming moment.

Ava’s coach and founder of Back2Boston, John Kinsella, shared his pride for the team’s showing in Dublin as well as Ava’s accomplishment on social media following her win, saying, “I am lost for words. I am so proud of everyone who represented Back 2 Boston yesterday in the Dublin Marathon. I started this project to help people and never thought a day like yesterday would happen. I am overwhelmed and just can’t believe how the day unfolded.”

Kinsella noted the great performances by the team, which included first-time competitors and some personal bests, saying the team are “true role models for the people in our city”. Speaking about Ava, he added, “And to Ava, just keep being yourself. You are amazing and deserve everything coming your way.”

Dublin Marathon organisers were also quick to praise the Limerick athlete, writing on Instagram, “Ava Crean. Only 19 years old and is now the youngest female to win the national title at the Irish Life Dublin Marathon in history. From 500m on a treadmill during lockdown… to 2:34 for a marathon. Crean’s journey is the ultimate reminder that every start matters. During Covid, she could barely make it 500m without stopping.

“This year, she’s gone from her marathon debut in May (2:49) to winning a national title in 2:34 just months later. With the help of her coach, family, and friends, she’s turned discipline and belief into something extraordinary.”

Speaking with I Love Limerick following her success earlier in the year at the Regeneron Great Limerick Run, Ava shared her journey into running which is both inspiring and relatable. She said, “ I remember when I started running, I couldn’t even run a hundred meters without stopping or taking a break,” before adding, “ I wasn’t really training for a Marathon. I did the Manchester Marathon last week. I was training for that a good bit, but maybe 10 weeks. I started running during Covid, and I only started with like two or three-kilometre runs, and I was dying by the end of it.”

Speaking about her time when she first started to run, she said, “I was scared to run outside because I thought people would judge me, but I realised no one actually cares – you’re the one running, and you should be proud you even got out there.”

The Back2Boston project is a community-driven initiative aimed at guiding runners from disadvantaged areas to show how the activity can change lives, with the overall aim of competing in the prestigious Boston Marathon.

Led by John Kinsella of Southill, the only man over 40 to have completed all six World Marathon Majors in under 2 hours and 30 minutes, the Back2Boston project brings together participants from Southill, Weston, Moyross and beyond.