13/10/2026
Nichola Sheridan has spoken of her delight at finishing third in the Melbourne marathon, a career highlight for the Meath native. The 29-year-old Bohermeen AC athlete finished in 2:29:13, her first sub-2:30 marathon, with Mayo-born Sinéad Diver, who has represented Australia since 2015, finishing second in 2:28:49.
Sheridan said her chastening experience at the Gold Coast marathon last July has left her ' a little bit scarred and saying, ‘I don’t know if I can do this again’'.
'Heading down to Melbourne, I kind of thought, I may as well have a go with these girls who I feel comfortable with. We always have the best time on the weekend of a race regardless and that really helps me ease into things.'
'The night before, I just said to Gary, the coach of the running crew, I just said, like, ‘Do you mind if I dropped into the half [marathon]?’ and he was like, ‘Oh, don’t start this’. He just said, ‘You’re going to do it, it might not be tomorrow, but like you’re there.’'
'I mentioned that the Gold Coast, like that, that was like a death march home. So I was waiting for that moment to hit me, but I was taken on like the crowds and Melbourne. The crowds were insane, there’s obviously lots of Irish in Melbourne, but I was just hearing my name the whole way around'
