From Athletics Ireland Fionnuala Britton today finished in third place at the IAAF Lotto Cross Cup in Brussels. Britton was in control for most of the race and was looking sharper than her outing at the European Cross Country Championships in Belgrade when she finished fourth.
The Wicklow woman was in a winning position in the closing stages before Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands (formerly Ethiopia) came through to win in 19 minutes and 38 seconds, five seconds ahead of Britton. Hassan demonstrated her cross country credentials in recent weeks by winning the under-23 title at the European Championships. Zewdnesh Ayele of Ethiopia, was second, with Britton third – just one second behind.
Britton will face another strong field at the IAAF Greenmount Cross Country International at Antrim on January 4th.
Great Britain’s recently crowned European silver medallist Gemma Steel, team mate European U23 bronze medallist Charlotte Purdue and Bahrain’s Maryam Jamal, the 1500m Bronze medallist from the London Olympics are all set to line up.
Joining Britton will be Sarah Treacy who finished 31st and Ciara Durkan who placed 36th in Belgrade and Ann-Maire McGlynn.
Brothers Michael and Dan Mulhare will line up in the Men’s race. Michael led the Irish Men’s Senior Team home in Belgrade in 15th place. Their sister Mary will race in the Women U23’s as part of the Celtic International Cross Country Match. The final member of the Men’s Team is Mick Clohissey.
Sean Tobin fresh from his top 10 performance in the Junior Men’s Race in Belgrade will compete for the first time in the U23 ranks.
Athletics Ireland will also be sending a U23, Junior and Youth Teams to compete in the Celtic International Cross Country Match
Britton will complete her IAAF cross country race series when she lines up the <strong>Great Edinburgh Cross Country on January 11th, a race that she has won in the previous two years. She will have to face the reigning European Cross Country Champion, Sophie Duarte of France.
IAAF Greenmount Cross Country International
Senior Women
Fionnuala Britton Kilcoole AC
Sarah Treacy Moynalvey AC
Ann Maire McGlynn Lifford AC
Ciara Durkin Skerries AC
Senior Men
Michael Mulhare Portlaoise AC
Dan Mulhare Portlaoise AC
Mick Clohissey Raheny AC
U23 Women
Mary Mulhare Portlaoise AC
Maria Sullivan Raheny AC
U23 Men
Sean Tobin Clonmel AC
Junior Women
Linda Conroy Mullingar Harriers AC
Sarah Miles DSD AC
Ella Fennelly DSD AC
Rachel O’Shea West Muskerry AC
Junior Men
Con Doherty
Andrew Coscoran Westport AC
Brendan OConnor Star of the Sea
Jack MacGabhann An Riocht
Girls U17
Siofra O’Flaherty SLOT
Aoife Hamilton West Waterford
Aisling Kelly St Johns
Isabel Carren Skerries
Development Team
Eimear Fitzpatrick DSD
Emma O’Brien Inbhear Dee
Fiona Everard Bandon
Hana Blake Inbhear Dee
Boys U17
Alan Monahan Bohermeen
Cathal McCarthy Doheny
Shane Hughes Mullingar
Fearghal Curtin Youghal
Development Team
Sean Carrigg Celtic DCH
Conall Hayes Le Cheile
Oisin O’Gibne Boyne
Ruairi Casey Togher