CATHERINA McKiernan has her first track race in Europe this summer when she runs over 5,000 metres in Hengelo, Holland, this evening.
McKiernan has made rapid progress from knee surgery last December. Her winning time of 15 minutes 7.36 seconds in her season's debut over the same distance at the Osaka Grand Prix meeting a fortnight ago was achieved despite severe jet lag.
In good spirits and looking fresh from the relatively short journey on this occasion, she nevertheless dismissed talk of approaching Sonia O'Sullivan's national record of 14:41.40 seconds, set in Berlin last August.
"It's too early for that sort of time," she said.
Also in the field are the Ethiopian pair of Gete Wami, the reigning world cross country champion, and Derartu Tulu, the 1992 Olympic 10,000 metres gold medallist.
They have reportedly asked the race organisers to lay on a pacemaker capable of taking them to a world record, but McKiernan was equally sceptical about their chances of success.
"The weather forecast is not too good and I have my doubts whether anything close to a world record is possible at this stage in the season."
Regardless of the time, a good performance or even victory tonight over such a top quality ensemble will give the Cavan runner a big boost to her Olympic preparations.
