ATHLETICS NEWS:MARK CARROLL makes a welcome return to the National Senior Cross Country team for the European Championships in Brussels on December 14th.
The 36-year-old Corkman has run many outstanding races and won a bronze medal in the 5,000 metres at the 1998 European Championships in Budapest and his availability for these Europeans is a great boost for the Irish men's team in their efforts to win medals for only the second time.
The last time Carroll represented his country in a major event was at the 2007 European Indoor Championships in Birmingham, an event in which he won gold in 2000. He also ran in the 2004 Olympics in Athens where he was eliminated in the heats of the 5,000 metres.
However, he has maintained a high level of fitness and training and put himself in line for this selection with a record-breaking run in a road race in Boston over the weekend.
"The prospect of running in the European Championships is very exciting," said Carroll, who has been living in the Boston area since taking up a scholarship at Providence College in 1991.
The availability of Carroll is all the more exciting for the medal prospects of the men's team, more especially as Olympic marathon runner Martin Fagan has also made himself available.
He finished 10th a couple of years ago but is now a better runner, while Andrew Ledwith of Meath strengthens the team further following his bronze medal-winning effort at the prestigious American NCAA Championships for Iona College on Monday.
The rest of the team is made up of the first three over the line in the National Intercounties on Sunday: Alan McCormack (Dundrum), Mark Christie (Mullingar) and Gary Murray (St Malachy's).
Fionnuala Britton, who missed Sunday's event through injury, has been named in the senior women's team subject to confirming her fitness within the next two weeks. Britton is joined by another US-based runner, Mary Cullen of Sligo. She too has been running well recently and has been gearing everything for Brussels.
Yet a further US-based runner, Holly Knight, will be running in an Irish vest in Brussels in the under-23 event. Knight was born in Devon of Irish parents and finished a good 11th in the women's event in Indiana.
Perhaps the best prospect of a medal by an Irish runner in this event is 22-year-old Linda Byrne of Dundrum, winner of the category in the big international in Belgium a few weeks ago.
IRISH CROSS COUNTRY TEAM
Men
Senior- A McCormack (DSD), M Christie (Mullingar H), G Murray (St Malachy's), M Carroll (Leevale), M Fagan (Mullingar H), A Ledwith (Fr Murphy's AC). Reserve: J McAllister (St Malachy's).
Under-23- M Clohisey (Raheny S), P Pollock (Abbey AC), J Coghlan (MSB), D McCarthy (W Waterford), R Yeates (Raheny S), C Ó Lionaird (Leevale). Reserve: J Fahy (Olympic AC).
Junior- C Murphy (Togher), M Mulhare (N Laois), D Flynn (Clonliffe), P Flynn (Ferrybank), I Ward (Finn Valley), S Quinn (Ferrybank Ac). Reserve: P Hogan (Ferrybank).
Women
Senior- M Cullen (N Sligo AC), F Britton (Slí Cualann), D Byrne (Slí Cualann), A Byrne (DSD), H Murphy (DSD), A Hutchinson (DSD). Reserve: K Harty (Newcastle).
Under-23- L Byrne (DSD), C Durkan (Skerries AC), E O'Brien (Sligo), H Knight (Finn Valley), A Baker (DSD). A N Other.
Junior- S L Treacy (Moynalvey/Kilcloone AC), C Ffrench O'Carroll (DSD), R Ffrench O'Carroll (DSD), C Mageean (Lisburn AC), L McCarthy (Waterford AC), T Jameson (Sli Cualann). Reserve: P Barry (Ferrybank).
Team Leader: Anne Keenan Buckley (N Laois). Coaches: J Davis (Liffey Valley) J Dooley (Nenagh), T McDaid (Letterkenny). Medical Officer: Dr Bill Cuddihy (Kilkenny CH). Physiotherapist: N Smyth (Dublin). Head of Delegation: P McGonagle (Finn Valley).
