Fionnuala McCormack bids to make it a record sweet 16 in Lisbon

Before the gun goes she’ll be a record-breaker, not that such a thought will be treated with anything but contempt by Fionnuala McCormack.

This may be her 16th appearance at the European Cross Country, a record for a female athlete, but she will feel no sense of supremacy when she toes the line in Lisbon tomorrow.

She may be a two-time former champion, having won gold in 2011 and 2012, but the subsequent years have seen her come up short in this setting, a realm where her world-class ability shines like no other.

The presence of Turkey’s Yasemin Can – formerly Vivian Jemutai of Kenya – will mean McCormack enters the race under the radar, given the Turk has won the last three titles with commanding ease.

McCormack was fifth behind Can in 2016, 12th the following year, while last year she was absent after giving birth to her daughter, Isla, just a couple of months before.

Her return to racing in 2019 couldn’t have been more impressive. Just four months after giving birth McCormack finished sixth at the international cross country meeting in Belfast and two months after that she finished 18th at the World Cross Country in Denmark.

“I didn’t want to come if I wasn’t in top-30 shape,” she said. “I didn’t want to just be making up the numbers.”

That’s never been McCormack’s style, and her performance that day turned many heads. Shortly before the race Valentijn Trouw – manager of marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge – said he was shocked to see McCormack back at that level so soon.

“Six months?” he said. “The Kenyans are not even jogging six months after giving birth.”

Of all the traits required for success in cross country – strength, stamina, a versatile stride – it’s the sheer capacity to hurt that counts most.

An area McCormack possesses a rare gift. But did childbirth change her – physically or mentally?

“I don’t think I’ve changed that much, no,” she said.

All these people say it’s so much easier after [becoming a mother], that you don’t overthink anything. I had this idea that I wouldn’t get nervous any more, but I was nervous [the morning of the race].

She’ll be nervous again tomorrow, knowing opportunities like this are now numbered, even if, at 35, McCormack seems better than ever. Proof of that came at the Chicago Marathon in October, where she carved four minutes off her personal best to finish fifth in 2:26:47.

That qualified her for what will be her fourth Olympics in Tokyo, and while the marathon will remain her focus, McCormack couldn’t resist a tilt at the event in which she made her name.

“I took a week off after (Chicago) and it is hard because I love cross country and I wanted to do it but I knew I had to be sensible,” she said. “Going into an Olympic year you don’t want to do anything stupid but I came off it well so I was like, ‘Okay, I’ll go for it now.’”

When she lined up at the national cross country championships a fortnight ago, it had been five months since her last race over natural terrain, but McCormack took to the task like a true master of the craft.

She rocketed to the lead and left her domestic rivals running a completely different race, hitting the line after 8,000m of hard running with one minute, 41 seconds to spare. When she was at her best in cross country, McCormack would not allow any complacency to creep in despite the absence of domestic rivals, pushing her body to a deep, dark place to prepare for the challenge of racing Europe’s best.

In Abbotstown she did just that, though she will face a whole different calibre of athlete tomorrow. Along with Can, there is Norway’s Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal, the bronze medallist for the past four years in the senior women’s race. However, the absence of Denmark’s Anna Moller, who has opted for the U23 race, is a significant boost to McCormack’s medal chances.

With three to score in the team event, the Irish senior women could challenge for medals if Ciara Mageean and Aoibhe Richardson bring their best to Lisbon. It’s unlikely the senior men will make a dent, the team is led by national champion Liam Brady and also includes last year’s 10th-place finisher Sean Tobin. Both Irish U23 teams look capable of springing a surprise, with Brian Fay, Peter Lynch, Jack O’Leary and Cathal Doyle capable of strong finishes. The US-based trio of Stephanie Cotter and sisters Eilish and Roisin Flanagan could also contend for a medal in the women’s race. All the action will be streamed live on the European Athletics website from 9am Irish time, with live coverage on RTÉ Two from midday.

Team Ireland

Men’s Senior: Conor Bradley, City of Derry Spartans AC; Damien Landers, Ennis Track AC; Eoin Everard, Kilkenny City Harriers AC; Kevin Maunsell, Clonmel AC; Liam Brady, Tullamore Harriers AC; Sean Tobin, Clonmel AC.

Women’s Senior: Aoibhe Richardson, Kilkenny City Harriers AC; Ciara Mageean, City of Lisburn AC; Fionnuala McCormack, Kilcoole AC; Fionnuala Ross, Armagh AC; Mary Mulhare, Portlaoise AC; Una Britton, Kilcoole AC.

Men’s U23: Brian Fay, Raheny Shamrock AC; Cathal Doyle, Clonliffe Harriers AC; Cormac Dalton, Mullingar Harriers AC; David McGlynn, Waterford AC; Jack O’Leary, Mullingar Harriers AC; Peter Lynch, Kilkenny City Harriers AC.

Women’s U23: Claire Fagan, Mullingar Harriers AC; Eilish Flanagan, Carmen runners ; Fian Sweeney, Dublin City Harriers AC; Roisin Flanagan, Carmen runners; Sorcha McAlister, Westport AC; Stephanie Cotter, West Muskerry AC.

Men’s U20: Daragh McElhinney, Bantry AC; Jamie Battle, Mullingar Harriers AC; Keelan Kilrehill, Moy Valley AC; Shay McEvoy, Kilkenny City Harriers AC; Thomas McStay, Galway City Harriers AC; Efrem Gidey, Clonliffe Harriers.

Women’s U20: Aoife ÓCuill, St. Coca’s AC; Danielle Donegan, Tullamore Harriers AC; Eimear Maher, Dundrum South Dublin AC; Jodie McCann, Dublin City Harriers AC; Maeve Gallagher, Swinford AC; Sarah Kelly, Inisowen AC.

Mixed Relay: Amy O’Donoghue, Emerald AC ; John Travers, Donore Harriers AC; Luke McCann, Dublin City Harriers AC; Nadia Power, Templeogue AC.