Ireland Ready for World Mountain Running Championships

Almost 400 athletes from 40 countries will compete in the 30th World Mountain Running Championships in Cassete di Massa in Tuscany this weekend. Three Irish teams are participating.

Stella Chesang (UGA) will start as one of the favourites in the junior women’s race after she finished fourth in the World Junior Championships 5000m in 15:53. Defending champion Mandy Ortiz (USA) is also competing.

World junior 10000m champion Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) will be hard to beat after running 28:32 in Oregon. Killian Mooney (DSD) finished third in a recent grand prix race beating the fourth place finisher from the European championships in July.

Andrea Mayr (AUT) is favourite for the senior women’s race. The Irish team is led by national cross-country champion Sarah McCormack (Clonliffe) and European Championships marathon finisher Sarah Mulligan (DSD). Former champion Martina Strahl (SWI) finished just ahead of Mulligan in the European marathon. Kenyan Lucy Wambui Murigi should also be among the top runners. Italy will start as team favourites and Ireland will find it difficult to repeat their bronze medal winning performance of 2013.

The senior men’s race is very open but Eritrean Pietro Mamo will start as favourite. His teammates will need to run well to take the team title off reigning champions Uganda and hosts Italy. Ireland has a well-balanced team that will be hoping for a top 12-15 place.

Irish Team

Senior men: Ian Conroy (Raheny Shamrock); Eoin Flynn (Rathfarnham); Tom Hogan (Sliabh Buidhe Rovers); James Kevan (Clonliffe Harriers); Brian MacMahon (Clonliffe Harriers); Barry Minnock (Rathfarnham)

Senior women: Emma Donlon (Metro St. Brigid’s); Sarah McCormack (Clonliffe Harriers); Sarah Mulligan (Dundrum South Dublin)

Junior men: Jamie Fallon (Craughwell A.C.); Killian Mooney (Dundrum South Dublin); Rick Nally (Dundrum South Dublin)