Sport

McKiernan finds nowhere to run

Catherina McKiernan has abandoned plans to prepare her bid for a second consecutive London marathon win in Portugal

By PETER BYRNE
Sat Mar 13 1999 - 00:00

Catherina McKiernan has abandoned plans to prepare her bid for a second consecutive London marathon win in Portugal. Just 24 hours after arriving in the Algarve for a planned three-week, warm weather training course, McKiernan and coach Joe Doonan decided to return home.

"The problem was there were no suitable places for distance running and after looking around, we decided we would be better off back in Dublin," McKiernan said.

"It's a pity about the warm weather bit but in every sense I think I'm better back here. Joe Doonan will be available to work with me on a daily basis and that's a big consideration."

McKiernan, who had planned to compete in a 10,000 metres race as part of her programme in the Algarve, is now attempting to put alternative arrangements in place for a run tomorrow week.

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Ireland's teams for the world short-course cross-country championships in Belfast will be finalised after trials at the ALSAA complex at Dublin Airport tomorrow afternoon. The first three home in both the men's and women's races are assured of automatic selection but with six athletes to be named in each team, the competitive element promises to be pronounced.

Among those guaranteed selection are Mark Carroll and Sinead Delahunty but Peter Matthews, who was required to run tomorrow to prove his fitness for the long-course championship, has pulled out because of an on-going back injury. His place in Belfast will be taken by Cathal Lombard of UCC.

Anne Keenan-Buckley, selected in the women's long-course team after finishing second in the national championship at Stranorlar, may now opt for the short-course race if she feels her performance in the trial warrants it.

On form, she will go close to winning tomorrow, although strong cases can also be advanced for Una English, Niamh Beirne, Freda Davern and the Waterford athlete, Elaine Fitzgerald, who is returning from Alabama to compete in the race.

Favourite for the men's race will be the talented northern runner, James McIlroy, whose main opposition is likely to stem from Shane Healy and fellow Ulsterman Brian Treacy, who ran so well during the indoor season.