Catherina McKiernan is planning another road race within a fortnight after a convincing performance in the 15-kilometre Seven Hills event, held just outside Amsterdam, on Sunday. Confirming her recent good form, McKiernan went away from Anne Marie Sandel, a former European cross-country champion, to win in a time of 48 minutes 30 seconds.
It followed her impressive win in her first marathon in Berlin six weeks ago and heightens speculation that she will concentrate on road running in coming years.
Inevitably, it will mean cutbacks to her cross-country programme and already she has decided that she will not be a contender for the European Championships in Lisbon next month.
The Cavan woman won the inaugural European race, but she said yesterday that it does not now figure in her programme for the current season. "I still plan to run some cross-country races, but this will not be one of them," she said. "I have been pleasantly surprised with my form in road races, my training in going well and in those circumstances, I don't intend to change the formula."
McKiernan is, however, likely to compete in the World Cross Country Championship in March when she may well face a return meeting with Sandel. Meanwhile, the Finn has departed to Kenya to prepare for next month's European Championships.
