Irish look to do Italian job at Euro Cross - Athletics Ireland
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Irish look to do Italian job at Euro Cross

8 December 2016

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Italian job awaits for Irish team at Euro Cross

A 28-strong Irish team will pit their wits against Europe’s finest cross country runners in Chia, Italy this Sunday (December 11).

Fionnuala McCormack (Kilcoole) is, of course, Ireland’s headline act where she will be hoping to get back on to the individual medal rostrum as well as guiding the women’s team to another podium position.

She will be supported on the team by Shona Heaslip (An Riocht), Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle), Ciara Mageean (UCD), Laura Crowe (An Riocht) and Michelle Finn (Leevale).

Mageean will be hoping the firm surface will suit her in Chia in an effort to replicate her junior form over cross country where she finished 7th in the junior race in 2010. The Portaferry woman has been returning to her cross country roots properly since getting into a full rhythm and an injury free build-up. The team has added experience in O’Flaherty and Finn who impressed in the summer in the 3,000m steeplechase having made the European final and competed in the Olympics.

McCormack will spearhead the team and a podium position will be in her sights. She would be the first woman to win three European cross country titles should she triumph but will face stiff competition from the likes of Turkey’s Yasemin Can and Meryem Akda. Can cruised to the European 10,000m title in Amsterdam and will be dangerous once more in Chia. Another danger will be Norway’s Karoline Grovdal who was a bronze medallist in Hyeres last year.

An experienced senior men’s team will be led by Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers) who won the Irish Life Health National Cross Country Championships impressively. Christie has had a hiatus from the European cross since 2010 but has plenty of experience to produce a solid showing alongside Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock), Mark Hanrahan (Leevale), Liam Brady (Tullamore Harriers), Paul Pollock (Annadale Striders) and Kevin Dooney (Raheny Shamrock).

Blooding the next generation

It will be a case of blooding the next generation in the U23 and junior races.

Bethanie Murray (DSD) and Amy O’Donoghue (Emerald) will lead Irish hopes in the women’s U23 race with Karl Fitzmaurice (Ennis Track) and Mitchell Byrne (Rathfarnham) representing in the men’s U23 race.

Jack O’Leary (Mullingar Harriers A.C.) is the most experience in the junior category at this level having finished 23rd last year with fellow fledglings Peter Lynch (Kilkenny City Harriers A.C.), Darragh McElhinney (Bantry A.C.), Fearghal Curtin (Youghal A.C.), Barry Keane (Waterford A.C.) and Charlie O'Donovan (Leevale A.C.) looking to gain further experience.         

Sophie Murphy (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.) finished 54th in the junior race and she will be aiming to improve upon that position with Amy Rose Farrell (Blackrock A.C.), Emma O'Brien (Inbhear Dee A.C./Sli Cualann), Carla Sweeney (W.S.A.F A.C.), Jodie McCann (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.), Aisling Joyce (Claremorris A.C.) sampling this level of competition.

The European Cross Country Championships will be televised on RTE 2 from 11am on Sunday. 

The entry lists are HERE

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