Universities races added to programme - Saturday, St. Clare’s DCU - Full details After months of competition, the cream of young Irish athletic talent will now get set to compete against the very best young cross country runners in England, Scotland and Wales at the annual KitKat SIAB Cross Country International on Saturday 31st March 2007 at 1pm. Ireland will play host to the event this year at St Clare’s, Dublin City University. This year we are delighted to run the Schools’ International in conjunction with the Celtic Intervarsity International where we will have an opportunity to see the best university talents in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This competition has not been held for four years and the Irish University Athletic Association (IUAA) are happy to revive the event. The incorporation of the event into the Schools’ International is aimed at improving the transition from underage athletics to senior athletics The opportunity for young athletes to watch, talk and run with senior athletes on the same course on the same day, is designed to show that opportunities and athletics does exist at senior level. To this end the IUAA is very appreciative of the opportunity provided by the Irish Schools Athletics Association and for all their help and assistance. The KitKat Irish Schools teams have been selected following the KitKat All-Ireland Cross Country Championships which took place earlier in the month at DCU with only the top athletes qualifying for a place on the team. On the day, all eyes will be on Shane Quinn, DLS Waterford, who hopes to retain the title he won last year in such impressive style at Stowe School, Buckinghamshire. Shane, son of the great Irish steeplechaser, Brendan, is an exceptional talent and has never been beaten in schools’ athletics. He leads a strong junior boys’ team which includes twins, Andrew and Patrick Mongahan, St Colman’s Newry, and the very strong, Tommy Casey from Sligo Grammar School. Noel Collins, Drumragh Integrated School Omagh, is another highly talented young athlete who will battle to the end to win the intermediate title. Last year at the Schools’ International he ran well to finish second in the Steeplechase. He has progressed since then and won the schools’ title here at St Clare’s in early March. He will be backed up by a very strong squad, including Ciaran McKenna, Gormanston, Dan King, St Eunan’s Letterkenny and Tomas Cotter, St Mary’s Dundalk. The girls’ intermediate also looks strong with very little to chose between Eimear Black, St Dominic’s Fortwilliam, Ciara Mageean, Assumption Ballynahinch, and Tara Jameson, St Dominic’s Wicklow. Further information John Shields Tel: 01 8311311 ISAA Mobile: 087 263 3376 Junior Girls (3000m) 1pm Short Lap (650m) back to start, Outer Lap (1850m) back to start, + straight into finish. (450m) Junior Boys (4000m) 1.20pm Outer Lap x 2 (1850m x 2) back to start, + straight into finish. (450m) Celtic Women (4000m) 1.45pm Outer Lap x 2 (1850m x 2) back to start, + straight into finish. (450m) Inter Girls (4000m) 2.15pm Outer Lap x 2 (1850m x 2) back to start, + straight into finish. (450m) Inter Boys (6000m) 2.40pm Outer Lap x 3 (1850m x 3) back to start, + straight into finish. (450m) Celtic Men (8000m) 3.10pm Outer Lap x 4 (1850m x 4) back to start, + straight into finish. (450m) University Teams Team Ireland Cathal Dennehy Dublin City University Colm Turner Dublin City University Dan Mulhare Waterford Jarlath Falls University of Ulster Chris Bracken Dublin City University Fergus Meade Cork Linda Byrne Dublin City University Ciara Durkin Dublin City University Mary Margaret Meade University of Ulster Ellen Diskin Dublin City University Siobhan Doherty University Limerick AN OTHER President Select (Ireland) Craig Longmore University College Dublin Andrew Murphy Waterford Andrew Connick Waterford Niall Sheehan University limerick Adrian Gilbane University College Dublin Owen Carleton Queens Belfast Niamh Devlin Dublin City University Wendy Davis University Ulster Ruth Mills University College Dublin Byrony Treston Trinity Louise Reilly Trinity AN OTHER Team Managers Ian Channey DCU The Irish Celtic university teams have been selected after the IUAA championships held in Athlone in late February. Team manager Ian Chaney is delighted with the women's team selected (the only exception is the exclusion of Fionnuala Britton, after her magnificent performance at the World cross Country championships). Linda Byrne, who finished 2nd to Fionnuala at nationals leads the team. Unfortunately, The more senior and experienced male university athletes have chosen not to run; however confidence is high that the developmental team will rise the occasion. "This is an outstanding opportunity for some of the understudies to gain international recognition and experience. Leading the team is Cathal Dennehy who finished 4th at the University championships. Further information Avril Collins / Angie Grant Weber Shandwick Telephone: 01 676 0168 Mobiles: 086 396 4368 / 086 377 2791 Ian Channey Mobiles: 087 967 5523