RAY TREACY, Director of Track and Field at Providence College, was thrilled with the performance of protégé Mary Cullen at the European cross-country championships in Tilburg.

WITH Athens looming, Irish athletics got another much-needed boost in advance of the Olympic Games when Mark Carroll finished second in the 3,000m at the Gugi Meeting in Linz on Monday night where Freda Davoren turned in another superb performance to finish third in the women’s 1,500m.

THERE is no physical reason why Sonia O’Sullivan should not go to next year’s Olympic Games in Athens as a medal contender according to the world’s leading expert in long term player/athlete development.

THERE will be no last minute race for qualifying standards for next year’s Olympic Games and Irish athletes will be selected only if they achieve the A standards as the Olympic Council of Ireland strives to get the best prepared team ever to Athens.