The elite field for Sunday's Ras Na hEireann in Dunleer is set to produce a showdown between most of Ireland's leading cross-country runners. Mark Carroll was confirmed yesterday as a definite starter, and he will be joined by Peter Matthews and Seamus Power.
It will be Carroll's first outing over the country in almost two years, but he should provide a strong challenge to Matthews and Power, who led the Irish team to bronze medals in last month's European Cross-Country Championships in Sweden. Carroll is eager to gain a place on the Irish team for the World Cross-Country Championships in Dublin next March and this race may be his best opportunity to impress.
The African presence will be provided by two emerging Kenyans, Cyrus Kataron and Paul Biwott, along with Ethiopia's Dejene Birhane and Yibeltal Ademasu.
In addition, most of the domestic athletes in line for a place on the men's team for the world championships are set to make the trip to Louth. Cork's Fiachra Lombard, who was also with the Irish team in Sweden, has been improving fast this season. Dermott Galvin and Vinny Mulvey - two of the top athletes on scholarship in America - along with Donal O'Sullivan, a training partner of Carroll in Rhode Island, will also compete.
Among the other international competitors signed up to race is British cross-country champion Keith Cullen, Americans Art Gilkes and Sandu Rebenciuc, and Collen DeReuck of South Africa.
Anne Keenan-Buckley - who led home the Irish women's team in 10th place in last month's European Championships - is almost certain to skip the women's race as she attempts to put a persistent ankle injury behind her.
