Athletics Ireland High Performance Director Kevin Ankrom has defended the decision to not follow the European marathon selection policy for the women’s team with the late inclusion of Fionnuala Britton and Sarah Mulligan by declaring it as only a guideline.

Fionnuala Britton has made a shock decision to run the European championship marathon later this month.

Rob Heffernan will lead an Irish team of 25 athlete’s to Zurich for next months Europeans, which take place from August 12 – 17.

While Mo Farah was toiling under the burden of expectation among 37,000 participants in the London marathon on Sunday, Colm Moore was quietly pounding the pavements to be the first Irishman home and 59th overall in a time of 2:29:22.

Sligo AC retained their men’s title while Leevale’s women went on the roll of honour for the first time at the Woodie’s DIY National Road Relay Championships in Raheny, Dublin yesterday.