SPORTS NEWS RELEASE European bronze medallist Mary Cullen to face challenge from Kenyan great Sally Barsosio
and European cross-country silver medallist Jessica Augusto in Great Ireland Run
– National cross-country champion Keith Kelly added to men’s race
Fresh from winning her European bronze medal at the weekend,Mary Cullen now enters a four week training phase at her home in Sligo before facing a stiff challenge in the Great Ireland Run on Sunday 5th April in the Phoenix Park from former world 10,000 metre champion Sally Barsosio of Kenya and Jessica Augusto of Portugal who finished second in last year’s European cross-country championships in Brussels, two places ahead of Cullen
Cullen will be aimingto become the first Irish winner of the Run for five years since Catherina McKiernan in 2004 and Sonia O’Sullivan in 2003. O’Sullivan will participate in the Run again this year.
The men’s field has also been further strengthened by the news that recent Irish cross-country champion Keith Kelly will face up to former world marathon record holder Paul Tergat of Kenya and Ireland’s top road runner, Martin Fagan. Kelly will compete for Ireland in the World Cross Country Championships in Jordan on 28th March before returning to the Phoenix Park for the Great Ireland Run. Kelly, a former US collegiate champion, is returning to top-class form after several years of injury.
Over 25 of Ireland’s top distance runners have now entered the elite field to compete for a new €3,500 plus prize fund which has been put in place for the first ten Irish men and women.
As well as Fagan and Kelly, other Irish elite men running include Mark Carroll, Mark Kenneally, Alan McCormack, Gary Murray and Mark Christie.Irish elite women running will include Deirdre Byrne 11th in the European indoor 3,000 metre final, Linda Byrne, Rosemary Ryan and Olympian Pauline Curley.
The Great Ireland Run is the country’s largest mixed 10km race and 10,000 runners are expected in 2009. Entries are open through www.greatirelandrun.org or 1890 930139.
Further details:
Andy Caine, Elite Athlete Manager, Great Ireland Run: +44 751 5050527
Roy Dooney, The Media Group: 01 2301815 / 087 2414165