Cragg in, Sonia Out of World Cross Country Teams

27 February 2005

Athletics Ireland are pleased to announce that Alistair Cragg will lead the Irish teams for the forthcoming IAAF World Cross Country Championships, in Saint-Etienne/Saint-Galmier, France, on 19-20 March.

Cragg, the fastest man in the world this year over 3000m indoors, has declared for both the long and short course events and will be joined in the long course by recently crowned National Champion Gary Murray from Donegal.

The women's team will be lead by Jolene Byrne and Maria McCambridge but will be without the services of former double World CC Champion Sonia O'Sullivan, who is on the comeback from injury but feels she would not be in a position to do herself justice by the time of the Championships.

National Junior Champions Danny Darcy and Rose-Anne Galligan lead their respective junior teams.

Men (Long course )

Gary Murray (St Malachys)

Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers)

Paul McNamara (Athenry)

Joe McAllister (St Malachys)

Vinny Mulvey (Raheny Shamrock)

Alistair Cragg (Clonliffe Harriers)

Men (Short Course)

Alistair Cragg (Clonliffe Harriers)

Women (Short Course)

Jolene Byrne (Donore Harriers)

Maria McCambridge (DSD)

Fionnuala Britton (Sli Chulainn)

Pauline Curley (Tullamore Harriers)

Mary Margaret Meade (North Belfast Harriers)(subject to fitness)

Niamh O'Sullivan (Riocht)

Junior Men

Danny Darcy (SLOT)

Paul Pollock (Abbey)

Junior Women

Rose-Anne Galligan (Newbridge)

Linda Byrne (DSD)

Management

Patsy McGonagle (Finn Valley)Team Manager

Jim Davis (Liffey Valley) Team Coach

Teresa McDaid (Letterkenny) Team Coach

Angela O'Sullivan physio

http://www.iaaf.org/wxc05/index.html