WHITE’S CROSS GAA salutes their club-member John Meade on his great achievement at the recent Cork City Marathon. John, along with his father Billy, and each of his brothers have been very actively involved in White’s Cross GAA for many years. However his most recent sporting exploit has been of a somewhat stranger variety!
“Tethered together for more than 26 miles, matching stride for stride, two men became unlikely heroes yesterday after smashing the world record for the three-legged marathon”, was how The Irish Examiner described the feat one day later. Tied at ankles and wrists John and running partner Colin Carroll shaved 15 minutes off the previous record set by identical twins Nick and Alastair Benbow in London in 1998.
Journalist Sean O’ Riordan noted that after 20 miles of the Cork City Marathon, Fermoy-based solicitor Colin Carroll hit the infamous “wall” and that it took the determination and will-power of his running partner, John Meade, to pull him through.
John himself remarked on the motivation given by the crowd “Over the last 100 metres the crowd were absolutely incredible. It must have been up there with the Munster team’s homecoming!” he quipped.
John, a civil engineer, had only ever competed in one full marathon before and only met his running partner for the first time six weeks previous. Colin’s original running partner, Carl Williams, pulled out two months ago with a torn hamstring. He appealed for a replacement and found John’s stride was a perfect match.
Former Irish Olympian Sonia O’Sullivan, who was the official starter of the marathon, stated: “This was a fantastic event to be part of — it always means so much to run at home — and the to be joined in the Guinness Book of Records by two more Corkonians — it’s a proud day for Cork”.
John has had little time to reflect on his fine achievement, as he was back in Junior A hurling championship action just six days later, lining out at wing forward against St. Finbarrs and playing no small part in the 1-20 to 2-10 victory. There will be no let-up!