IRELAND has a rich tradition in cross-country running stretching back to the 1930s and Tim Smyth’s world dominance, through John Treacy’s back-to-back world titles in 1978 an 1979, Catherina McKiernan’s European title in 1994 and then Sonia O’Sullivan’s two world titles on successive days in Marrakech in 1998.

ANDREW LEDWITH wants to reproduce the form he showed when winning the national inter-counties cross-country title in Kilbeggan three weeks ago when he lines up for the SPAR European championships at Santry.

The Irish Women’s 4x100 relay team has failed to qualify for the final at the Spar European Championships in Gottenburg, but did manage to set a new national record in a very competitive semi-final.