McCormack chalks up fifth consecutive second place
Fionnuala McCormack continued her fine record at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country with a second place finish in Holyrood Park today.
Since 2012 McCormack has chalked up two victories and now five consecutive second place finishes. McCormack split the Turkish duo of Yasemin Can and Meryem Akdag with the latter fading in the closing stages of the 6km race.
McCormack took the lead from the start but looked like suffering the same fate as the European Championships when the Turks forged ahead and set a metronomic pace. Akdag was unable to sustain the pace on the picturesque and undulating course with Arthur’s Seat as the backdrop allowing McCormack to get up for second. Can won in 20:26 with the Wicklow woman second in 20:57 with Akdag third in 21:02.
“It was tough but it was good,” said McCormack afterwards. “I definitely enjoyed that a lot more than the European Cross Country – partly because of the course and partly because I was more competitive. I love it here. I’ve ran here so many times before. Even out on the course it’s like home support it’s brilliant.”
An Irish team consisting of John Travers (Donore Harriers), Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle), Kieran Kelly (Raheny Shamrock) and Ciara Mageean (UCD) finished fourth in the 4x1km relay while Mick Clohisey competed for Europe in the senior men’s race.
