Fionnualla Britton of Kilcoole is to make her marathon debut at the forthcoming European Athletics Championships starting in Zurich Switzerland on Tuesday August 12. Britton will compete in the 10,000m on the opening night of competition and then line out in the women’s marathon on Saturday August 16.
With Rio 2016 just two years away, Zurich will give Britton a valuable introduction to championships marathon running. Also on the women’s team are Barbara Sanchez of Clonliffe Harriers and DSD’s Sarah Mulligan, best known for her exploits as a mountain runner.
Maria McCambridge, the Irish marathon champion, has opted not to run the marathon in Zurich; she had been working at her speed over the 5000m with the aim of qualifying for the 10,000m and may run a half marathon in the autumn. Nicola Duncan of Galway, who ran the fastest time by an Irish women in many years in London last April, is battling injury and has been forced with withdraw from the team.
Annadale’s Paul Pollock and Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham WSAF, backed up by Thomas Frazer and Kevin Seaward, will go in the men’s marathon in Zurich.
ZOE BROWN has been forced to give up her place on the Irish team for Zurich after injuring herself during the Commonwealth Games. Question: why didn’t they move the women’s pole vault indoors? The conditions certainly warranted a Plan B.
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