Britton, Mulhare, McCarthy, Treacy for “Team Europe”

As well as Fionnuala Britton, Michael Mulhare and David McCarthy  will run for

Michael Mulhare

“Team Europe” in the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross-Country, while Sarah Treacy has received a late call-up. The “Europeans” will take on teams from Britain and the USA. The American team is managed by Santry-born Mick Byrne.

Britton’s big rival in the women’s race will be European champion Sophie Duarte of France.  Leading the men’s entry is the Ethiopian Alemayehu Bezebah, winner of the European Cross-Country title in Spanish colours last month after his return to competition following  a doping suspension.  In the men’s shorter 4km race,  Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele, who makes his marathon debut next April in Paris,  leads the entry, with Northern Ireland’s Stephen Scullion also entered.  The event is live on BBC1 (1.15-2.45pm).

In Athlone,  the Woodie’s DIY National Combined Events Championship include master, senior, junior, youth and juvenile categories.

Kilkenny’s Michael Bowler  defends the senior men’s title with Kourosh Foroughi of Star of the Sea and Raheny’s Sean Gill also entered.  At junior level,  Mid-Sutton’s Sarah McCarthy competes in the women’s competition along with Amy McTeggart of Boyne. McTeggart recorded a personal best 4,217 for the heptathlon last September.  Mark Roger’s of St Peter’s is favourite to take the men’s junior title.

In the youth category,  Cushinstown’s Elizabeth Morland  is fresh from victory at the Schools Indoor International where she set a new competition record of 3,740 points. Best of the U16 boys is likely to be Daniel Ryan of Moycarkey Coolcroo.