ATHLETICS NEWS:TOP MEDAL-winning prospect, 27-year-old Wicklow runner Fionnuala Britton, leads the Irish challenge into the European Cross-Country Championships in Velenje, Slovenia, on Sunday week.

Yesterday Britton was named among the 27-strong list of Irish runners that will split their forces among the six championship races with five runners named in all but one of the events, namely the women’s under-23 category.

Britton has been a great Irish ambassador in these championships over the last six years, first as a junior and then in the under-23 grade where she won a silver medal in 2006 before coming so desperately close to winning another in the senior event in Portugal last year when she finished fourth but had the same time as the bronze medallist.

During the summer Britton achieved the A standard in the 3,000 metres steeplechase to make it to her second Olympics in London and competed in her second World Championships in Daegu but she loves cross-country running and under her coach, Chris Jones, has prepared specifically for these Europeans.

Last Sunday she skipped the inter-counties to test her fitness and strength in a good race in France and came away with an excellent third place behind a couple of Ethiopians and, significantly, ahead of Turkey’s silver medallist from last year, Binnaz Uslu, who was 31 seconds adrift.

However, the Turk is not to be underestimated, no more than the two Portuguese who took gold and silver last year. But this time the Portuguese will be out of their comfort zone as the Velenje course is very testing with a couple of tough hills that will not bother the Irish runner in the least.

Also joining Britton on the women’s team are Claire Gibbons-McCarthy (Leevale AC), Aoife Culhane of Dundrum, Kerry Harty (Newcvastle) and Eilish Kelly (Raheny AC).

The senior men’s team will be led by the formidable Dundrum runner Joe Sweeney, winner of the inter-counties on Sunday by 45 seconds and will be looking to improve on his 21st position from last year and provided the likes of Andrew Ledwith and Paul Pollock run up to their true form the Irish team can make the top five or six.

Last year the Irish men’s under-23 team won the gold medals but Michael Mulhare of North Loais AC is the only surviving member on this occasion.

Ireland team manager Anne Keenan Buckley said: “We have solid teams competing this year with individual chances of quality performances in under-23 and senior level.”

IRELAND TEAMS(for European Cross Country championships, Velenje, Slovenia, December 11th) – Men – Senior Men: Joe Sweeney (Dundrum South Dublin AC), Andrew Ledwith (Fr Murphy's), Paul Pollock (Abbey AC), Mark Hanrahan (Leevale AC), Gary Thornton (Galway City Harriers). Under-23: Michael Mulhare (North Loais AC), Emmet Jennings (DSD), David Flynn (Clonliffe Harriers AC), Liam Tremble (MSB AC), David Fitzmaurice (Clonliffe AC). Junior: Jake Byrne (Mullingar AC), Kevin Dooney (Raheny AC), Liam Brady (Tullamore AC), Seán Tobin (Clonmel AC), Ruairi Finnegan (Letterkenny AC).

Women – Senior: Fionnuala Britton (Kilcoole AC), Claire Gibbons-McCarthy (Leevale AC), Aoife Culhane nee Byrne(DSD AC), Kerry Harty (New Castle AC), Eilish Kelly (Raheny AC). Under-23: Sarah Louise Treacy (Moynalvey AC), Una Britton (Kilcoole AC). Junior: Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (DSD AC), Claire McCarty (DSD AC), Kate Veale (West Waterford AC), Mary Mulhare (North Loais AC), Mary Ann O'Sullivan (Tinryland AC). Team manager: Ann Keenan-Buckley.