IRELAND’S men’s under-23 team are capable of winning medals at this year’s European Cross-Country Championships, according to Mark Carroll.

MARTIN FAGAN’S participation in next month’s Houston Marathon will depend on the outcome of a meeting today with officials at the US embassy in Ballsbridge.

GARETH TURNBULL, Mary Cullen and Maria McCambridge will not contest Sunday’s European cross-country championships in Toro, Spain.

A SUSPECTED case of food poisoning cost Ireland dearly at the SPAR European cross-country championships at San Giorgio su Legnano, Italy, yesterday.

MARY CULLEN is ready to challenge for a medal in the senior women’s race at the SPAR European cross-country championships at San Giorgio su Legnana, near Milan, tomorrow but would be happy with a place in the top five or six.

MARK CHRISTIE is not among the medal favourites for the U23 men’s race at the SPAR European cross-country championships in San Giorgio su Legnano, but that won’t bother the 21 year-old Mullingar man on Sunday.

MARK CHRISTIE, winner of the national senior inter-counties title on Sunday in Dungarvan, has opted to compete in the Under-23 race at the European cross-country championships in Italy on Sunday week and Seamus Power, nine-time inter-counties champion, could be the man to replace him on the senior team.

ALISTAIR CRAGG wants to spearhead the Irish challenge at next month’s European cross-country championships and the European indoor championships in Birmingham in early March when he will defend his 3,000m title — his big priority.

SÉAMUS POWER has dominated the national inter-counties cross-country chapionships for the past seven years, and there is nothing to indicate that he will not win a record eighth title at Donoughmore, Co Cork, tomorrow.