ATHLETICS NEWS: A marathon run later in the year is just one of Catherina McKiernan's targets for 2004.

Following a long spell of injury and the birth of her daughter, McKiernan has been slowly working her way back to the top and yesterday announced that she would be using the rescheduled Great BUPA run as a stepping stone to a series of important events later in the year, including the World Cross Country Championships in Brussels and the summer Olympic Games in Athens.

Along with Sonia O'Sullivan, who won the inaugural BUPA 10k event last October with McKiernan finishing third, the two will again compete in this year's Phoenix Park race, which has been moved to April 3rd to facilitate the schedules of the top athletes.

Last year over 2,500 people took part in the run with O'Sullivan winning in 32 minutes 24 seconds and McKiernan 40 seconds down over a distance which is probably too short for her against opposition like O'Sullivan.

"If you'd asked me six months ago whether I was going to run a marathon again, I'd have said no way," said McKiernan. "But now I can say that I would run a marathon again. That's definitely a goal. I've run good marathons in the past and now I'm getting a bit fitter and stronger that I'm not afraid of them, whereas six months ago I'd have said no way that's too hard."

McKiernan, the Irish marathon record holder, and at one stage regarded as the best runner in the world over 26 miles, hopes to run the classic distance in the latter half of the year.

"The frightening thing was that they were easy then," she said. "Some of the cross country runs I competed in were not as easy. I can maintain a pace but the fast running on the track doesn't suit me.

"The 10k races are harder because the pace is faster. But as you get fitter you get a little bit greedier, you know. And I don't like being beaten."

British Olympic medallist and managing director of the race organiser Nova, Brendan Foster, said he hopes to make the race an international event in the years to come.

"We hope this becomes a true international sporting event," he said before pointing to O'Sullivan and McKiernan as the two jewels of Irish distance running.

Foster pointed out that when Britain had Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett competing, they believed that the cycle would never end.

The race is the largest mixed 10k race in Ireland and will be used as a final tune up for elite Irish athletes Seamus Power, who finished third last October and Peter Matthews, both of whom will be seeking Olympic marathon qualification times at the London marathon two weeks later.

The event's nominated charities are Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin and the Marie Keating Foundation.