from AAI website The Senior Men’s team have been boosted by the return to international competition of Mark Carroll The Irish team were in confident mood today as they visited the home of the 2009 European Cross Country Championships in the Santry Demesne ahead of flying out to this year’s event, which takes place in Brussels on Sunday. This will be the first time that Ireland has hosted a European Cross Country Championships after twice holding the World Cross Country event.
The Senior Men’s team have been boosted by the return to international competition of Mark Carroll. The Leevale clubman hasn’t represented his country in a major event for over 18 months but having represented Ireland in the 2004 Olympics his experience will be invaluable to the team.
Alan McCormack heads up a talented team following his victory at the Inter-counties. The DSD man is by joined Mark Christie, Gary Murray, Andrew Ledwith and Martin Fagan who are on course to be the first team to win a medal since the Euros in 2000.
Martin Fagan will be one of those to watch on Sunday. The Mullingar Harriers man, who is based in the US, has been putting in some great performances since his return from Beijing. His most notably was a recent win at the annual Manchester Connecticut Road Race in America. Fagan has also been recently rewarded with European Athlete for October. Andrew Ledwith is another to watch as he placed an impressive third at the recent NCAA’s in Indiana. Ledwith is currently shortlisted for the Athlete of the Month for November.
While Santry is on the horizon the athletes are all focused on this weekend’s action but the team will depart for Belgium without one of their star athletes, Fionnuala Britton.
The Sli Chulainn athlete has not recovered in time from a recent foot injury and has been replaced in the fold by Newcastle AC’s Kerry Harty. The women’s senior team will be led by Sligo’s Mary Cullen, who has shown some impressive form following the injury that kept her out of the Olympics.
National Inter County senior women’s champion Linda Byrne of DSD will lead the under 23 women’s team of Holly Knight, Ciara Durkan, Eimear O’Brien and Aisling Baker. Linda Byrne finished 6th in this event last year and on present form she can now challenge for a medal in Brussels. Holly Knight finished 11th in the women’s race at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Indiana and should also be capable for challenging for a high placing.
Team Manager, Anne Keenan-Buckley, is hopeful that her team has the talent to pick up some honours: “The team we’re bringing to Brussels is one of both talent and experience right across the board. We are especially strong in the Senior Men’s team; I think if things go right for them on the day, they could put our first medal since Malmo eight years ago. It was a bit disappointing to lose Fionnuala, we have a very talented group for the Senior Women but we’re not blessed with great depth. To win a medal, we need Fionnuala and Mary running together.
“Our underage teams are very strong, possibly the strongest we’ve had since I’ve been in charge. Linda Byrne in the U23 is looking great and coming into it in good form. Ciara Mageean and the Ffrench – O’Carroll’s have the potential to do very well for the Junior Women while David McCarthy has had another phenomenal year in the States and could come away with an individual medal.”
At the end of the weekend Athletics Ireland President, Liam Hennessy, will be handed the flag for next year’s Championships in Santry by the Brussels LOC as Ireland will begin their build up to the 2009 event.
Teams for European Cross Country Championships in Brussels – December 14th
Men’s Senior: Alan McCormack, Martin Fagan, Andrew Ledwith, Mark Christie, Mark Carroll and Gary Murray
Women’s Senior: Mary Cullen, Deirdre Byrne, Ava Hutchinson and Rosemary Ryan, Hazel Murphy and Kerry Harty
Men’s U23: David McCarthy, Richie Yeates, Mick Clohisey Paul Pollock, John Coghlan, and Jason Fahy
Women’s U23: Linda Byrne, Holly Knight, Ciara Durkan, Eimear O’Brien, Aisling Baker, Rose-Anne Galligan
Junior Men: Craig Murphy, Michael Mulhare, David Flynn, Shane Quinn, Patrick Flynn and Ian Ward
Junior Women: Sara Treacy, Charlotte Ffrench O’Carroll, Rebecca Ffrench O’Carroll, Ciara Mageean, Lorraine McCarthy, and Tara Jameson.
Team Manager: Anne Keenan Buckley (Nth Laois A.C)
RTE television coverage begins at 1.25pm.
BBC television coverage begins on their interactive channel (’Red Button’) at 10am (all races ‘live’) before going to BBC 2 at 1pm.