After strong performance at last weekend’s Intercounty Cross County Championships in Sligo, a full Irish team will compete at next week’s European Cross-Country Championships in Velenje, Slovenia.
Best chance of a medal lies with Fionnuala Britton of Kilcoole who leads the women’s senior team. Last year, Britton finished fourth – just seven seconds behind the race winner Jessica Augusto of Portugal.
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| Sarah Treacy, Fionnuala Britton |
Britton had opted out of the Intercounties to take part in the Cross de l’Acier in France, where she finished third between Ethiopian Filesa Tadese. Among others, she beat Binnaz Uslu of Turkey, the woman who outsprinted her for bronze last year.
Backing her up are experienced internationals Aoife Culhane of DSD, Claire Gibbons-McCarthy of Leevale and Newcastle’s Kerry Harty, along with newcomer Elish Kelly of Raheny Shamrock.
Aiming to defend the title they won last year are the new-look men’s U-23 team. Only Michael Mulhare remains from last year when he finished 16th and third Irishman. Joining him are Emmet Jennings of DSD from last year’s junior team, along with Clonliffe pair David Flynn and David Fitzmaurice and MSB’s Liam Tremble.
A strong junior men’s team is led by Mullingar’s Jake Byrne, who returned from his American base to win the junior race in Sligo. Also selected are Raheny’s Kevin Dooney, a member of last year’s team, and Tullamore’s Liam Brady.
Best of the Irish senior men last year was Joe Sweeney who finished 21st. The DSD man again leads the team after a majestic win at Sligo. Among those joining him is Andrew Ledwith of Fr Murphy’s.
Although she won her first senior title in Sligo, Sarah Louise Treacy of Moynalvey will compete in the U-23 category for a third time, aiming to break out of the top 20.
Siofra Cleirigh Buttner, aged just 16, makes her debut at this level when she competes in the women’s junior race. Her DSD clubmate Claire McCarthy joins her on the team along with race walker Kate Veale of West Waterford, Mary Mulhare of North Laois and Tinryland’s Mary Ann O’Sullivan.
* Watch out for coverage of the action on RTE television.
MASTERLY WIN BY MATHEWS
Peter Matthews of DSD defied horrendous conditions to defend his men’s title successfully at the British and Irish Masters’ International Cross-Country in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow.
Matthews M40, Ireland’s first ever winner of this race last year in Santry, tucked in behind Austin Davies M45 of Wales in the early part of the 8km race before making his break on the final lap. He finished in 24 minutes 54 seconds – a full half minute ahead of Davies. In third place and first M35 was Ireland’s Ciaran Doherty.
Third in their age groups were Raheny’s Mick Traynor M45 and Martin McEvilly of Galway M60. Frank Reilly was second in the M65 6km race.
Carmel Parnell of Leevale won the W55 category for a sixth age-group victory in this race. She is now just two off the record of eight wins set by Karen Marshall of Northern Ireland.
Previous overall champion Niamh O’Sullivan was third W45 and Kathleen O’Bried third W65.
Next year’s Championships take place in Belfast.
KENNEDY IS MASTER OF THE YEAR
Former Irish marathon champion Christine Kennedy from Corofin, Co Galway, is USA Track and Field’s Masters Athlete of the Year.
Kennedy, residant in California for the past 15 years, was the dominant master in her W55 age group all season and at the World Masters Championships, won both the 5,000m and marathon.
Her best run of the year came at the Boston Marathon last April when she finished in 2:56:17. Kennedy won an Irish cross-country title in 1989 and the Dublin Marathon in 1990 and 1991.
WORLD JOGGER TONY IN DUBLIN
Back in Dublin on a short break is World Jogger Tony Mangan of MSB. Tony came home to surprise his sister Ann who is celebrating her 50th birthday this week. After starting his mammoth run around the world after the 2010 Dublin Marathon, Tony has covered over 14,000 kilometre and run through 12 counties – the latest is Panama in Central America. He will head for South America via the Darien jungle area when he resumes his run on December 12. See www.theworldjog.com for details.
CLONLIFFE CHRISTMAS CRACKER
Entry is open for the inaugural Clonliffe Harriers Christmas Cracker 5km on Sunday December 18 (10am).
Thanks the support of European Recycling Platform, the race has an unusual angle – bring along a used battery operated/electrical toy or ten used batteries for recycling and you could win a TV, MP3 player or portable DVD player. Race entry is €15; see www.clonliffeharriers.com.
ISEULT WINS IN ST ANNE’S
Raheny’s Iseult O’Donnell, running as a guest, won the opening round of the Women’s Meet and Train Winter League in St Anne’s Park, Raheny.
O’Donnell’s time of 14 minutes 10 seconds for two miles put her 21 seconds ahead of Donore’s Sinead McAuley, with Freda Comiskey of Lucan third. Next round is at Swords on Sunday December 11 with newcomers of all standards welcome.
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