ATHLETICS: Ian O'Riordan looks forward to one of track's most exciting showdowns in tomorrow's 10,000 meter final of the European Championships in Munich.

Some Irish competitors did better than others with the announcement of the final entry lists for the European Athletics Championships. Sonia O'Sullivan is assured of the toughest possible challenge when she defends her 10,000 metres when the championships begin in Munich tomorrow, yet her 5,000 metres opponents may not be as daunting as originally suspected.

Though she has yet to run a 10,000 metres on the track since her memorable London Marathon win in April, Britain's Paula Radcliffe will start tomorrow night's straight final as favourite. Victory over 5,000 metres at the Commonwealth Games last week - just three seconds short of the world record - has left Radcliffe at her sharpest and most confident.

Two other athletes are ahead of O'Sullivan on the European ranking list - Romania's Mihaela Botezan and Russia's Lyudmila Biktasheva - yet they lack championship credentials. O'Sullivan and Radcliffe then appear set to kick-start the championships with one of track's most exciting showdowns.

The outcome of that race is sure to have a bearing on the 5,000 metres, where the heats are scheduled for Thursday night. Both O'Sullivan and Radcliffe are listed to run, but both will only confirm their entry after the 10,000 metres. O'Sullivan is more intent on doing the double, but defeat for Radcliffe is almost certain to see her return for a second chance.

O'Sullivan's other great rival, Gabriela Szabo, should focus solely on the 1,500 metres. Though she has yet to run the event this season, she is hoping to add the European title to the World title she won in Edmonton last summer. Though also listed to run the 5,000 metres, Szabo's heats of the 1,500 metres take place on Friday morning - making the double practically impossible.

Russia's controversial World champion Olga Yegorova is concentrating on the 5,000 metres but is a little short of her unbeatable form of a year ago. Fellow Russian Tatyana Tomashova has run faster this year but if O'Sullivan and Radcliffe do come back for the 5,000 metres then the Russians are sure to be the athletes to beat.

European indoor bronze medallist Karen Shinkins has been spared an early start tomorrow as the heats of the women's 400 metres have been cancelled. But that means qualification for Thursday's final has become that bit more difficult as Shinkins only gets one chance to impress in Wednesday's three semi-finals.

In contrast, the women's 1,500 metres has turned into one of the toughest events of the championships and Geraldine Hendricken will need to be at her best come Friday's heats. So far this season 20 runners have gone under 4:05 - compared to only 16 during the entire 2001 championship season.

Hendricken is ranked 10th in Europe, but there are so many new names emerging in the event this summer that a place in next Sunday's final is far from guaranteed.

Irish 400 metre record holder Paul McKee will also need to be at his sharpest. His heats go ahead as scheduled tomorrow morning but this event is among the most competitive.

James Nolan has intentions of making the 1,500 metres final but, just days before departing for Munich, he was hit by a bicycle while on a training run around Belfield. Though no serious injury occurred, Nolan has been taking painkillers and his heats tomorrow evening may come too soon.

Gillian O'Sullivan goes in the 20 kilometre walk on Wednesday morning. After fine-tuning her preparations in Austria last week, the new world record holder over 5,000 metres is clearly in the form of her life and is closer than ever to making the breakthrough at championship level.

A series of injuries among the Irish sprinters has forced the withdrawal of the men's 4 x 100 metre relay. Jonathon Carleton withdrew late last week, and yesterday both John McAdorey and Mark Howard also declined to travelwith the Irish squad.

McAdorey, who was also due to compete individually over 100 metres, is suffering from an infected wisdom tooth, while Howard picked up a groin injury after last month's National Championships and has failed to recover. The fourth member of the squad, Paul Brizzel, runs in the 200 metres.

It was also announced yesterday that Ciara Sheehy will concentrate solely on the 200 metres and skip the 100 metres.