Press Release : 11th March, 2002

IAAF/Sport Ireland World Cross Country Championships
Leopardstown Dublin
23rd/24th March 2002

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After an impressive victory in the short course (4000 Metres) trials in ALSAA on Sunday, Sonia O'Sullivan confirmed her participation in that event in the forthcoming World Championships. Sonia will be strongly supported by National Cross Country champion Ann Keenan Buckley who finished 20th in this event last year in Ostend. The women's team finished sixth last year and will now be hoping for an improvement on that performance in front of a supportive local audience.

Peter Matthews confirmed his recent good form with an authoritative win in the men's short course and will now lead the Irish Team in long course at the world Championships. Making his debut in the long course is Mark Carroll whose last outing in the championships was in Belfast where he finished 21st in the short course. Mark previously ran the junior race on three occasions and in 1990 finished an impressive 19th. With the addition of Seamus Power, the team will be hoping to at least equal last year's tremendous 8th place in Ostend.

The full list of Irish teams is as follows.

Junior Women Junior Men Name Club Name Club Fionualla Britton Sli Chualainn Mark Christie Mullingar Harriers Linda Byrne DSD Joseph Sweeney DSD Michelle Gallagher DSD Kevin Seaward St. Malachy's Ava Hutchinson DSD William Harty KCK Lisa Marie Coohill Athenry Alan Mc Cormack DSD Ashling Baker DSD Martin Fagan Mullingar Harriers Reserves Reserves Fiona Mahon South O'Hanlon Eoin Higgans St. Coca's Michelle Harvey Tir Chonaill Dermot Grant Sparta North West   Senior Women Short Course Senior Men Short Course Sonia O'Sullivan Ballymore Cobh Robert Connolly DSD Maria Mc Cambridge DSD Paul Mc Namara Galway City Har Valerie Vaughan Blarney Inniscara Paul Reilly Loughrea Rosemary Ryan Bilboa Mark Keaneally Raheny Sham Maureen Harrington Riocht Gareth Coughlan UCD Ann Keenan Buckley North Laois Gareth Turnbull St. Malachys Reserves Reserves Breda Dennehy Willis Bandon Tristan Druet Sligo Niamh Beirne Lucan Harriers Nigel Brunton Clonliffe Harriers   Senior Women Long Course Senior Men Long Course Marie Mc Mahon Marian Peter Mattews DSD Geraldine Hendricken SLOT Seamus Power Kilmurry/Ibrickane Pauline Curley Tullamore Hrs Cathal Lombard Leevale Orla O'Mahoney UCD Fiachra Lombard Leevale Teresa Duffy Beechmount Hr Martin CM Carthy Leevale Margaret Danagher Templemore Mark Carroll Leevale Reserves Reserves Noleen Porter Finn Valley John Burke Mullingar Harrs Catriona Granaghan Finn Valley Killian Lonergan Clonliffe Harrs