Martin Fagan, competing for Providence College, set a new course record when winning the Big East Conference Cross Country in Franklin Park, Boston on Saturday. Martin's winning time of 23:09 was 9secs faster than the previous record set by fellow Irishman Keith Kelly in 2000. This latest win for Martin makes him a serious contender for the NCAA championships at the end of the month. Following the NCAA's Martin travels home to Ireland for the European Cross Country in Italy on the 10th December. At the same Conference meeting Richie Yeates finished 15th making him a strong contender on the Irish squad for the inaugural under 23 event at the European Cross Country.On the women's side Breffni Twohig finished a splendid 10th and is now clearly in top form again having suffered badly at the inter county cross country last year and failing to sparkle during the track season. Breffni will be a very strong candidate for the European junior cross country. Elsewhere Colin Costello and Rose Ann Galligan finished 26th in their respective conference meetings. We are awaiting details of other Irish performers. At the big Birmingham meeting on Saturday a group of serious contenders for the European under 23 event ran extremely well in the senior race. Mick Clohissey was the best finishing 13th ahead of Mark Kirwan 18th; Alan McCormack 19th and Joe Sweeney 23rd. Brian McMahon finished 27th. In the under 17 races in Birmingham Craig Murphy from Togher had a superb win while the Ffrench O'Carroll twins from DSD Charlotte and Rebecca finished 3rd and 5th respectively in their event.