Power ‘in good shape’ to challenge for 10th inter-counties title

SEAMUS POWER bids to win the National senior inter-counties cross-country title for a sensational 10th time at St Augustine’s College, Dungarvan, on Sunday.

Since his last victory his whole life has changed dramatically. Apart from the injury which kept him out of top-class competition for months, his father and then brother, Dermot, who was such a significant influence on his career died.

If he wins on Sunday, he will dedicate it to Dermot.

And the message from the teak tough Clareman yesterday was that he has a battling chance of claiming the title for the 10th time.

“I am in fairly good shape right now,” he said. “When I ran the Gerry Farnan cross-country race and the Great North Run I got bad stitches. In the Gerry Farnan I was up with Mark Christie and Gary Murray when I got the stitch. I stopped for a while and then, when I got going again, I was able to pass a lot of runners before it returned.”

Since that race he has been to the international cross-country race in Ghent — a race he won twice previously. This time, however, he was happy with fifth.

“I was delighted with my run,” he said. “I had three good months of training behind me and the hunger was there. I think there has been further improvement since.”

“But it’s not getting any easier. So far this season Mark Christie had a great run to win the Gerry Farnan race and Gary Murray and Mark Kenneally ran really well in Tilburg while Gareth Turnbull will have a big fire in his belly after all he has been through.

“I am hoping to run well and I am ready for a battle. I will be very disappointed if I don’t at least make the team for the European championships.”

Gareth Turnbull has come through a long and difficult battle to clear his name of a doping allegation and he has every cause to be upset with the powers that be over the manner in which he was treated over the past year.

Victory on Sunday would prove a point. On his last visit to Dungarvan he was second to Seamus Power and he has also been third and fourth in those championships.

“I would be very surprised if he is not all fired up for this race,” national inter-club champion, Vinny Mulvey (Raheny Shamrock) said. “From my own point of view I am hoping to sneak on to the team for the European championships.”

Fionnuala Britton, like fellow DCU student, Mark Christie, is a three times winner of the national junior title and after her big win in Ghent she will go to the line as favourite for the women’s title.

The six teams for the European championships will be announced on Monday with Martin Fagan, who finished fifth in the NCAA championships in Indiana on Monday, and Mary Cullen from Sligo the only athletes who have been pre-selected. Alistair Cragg will announce whether or not he is available for selection at the weekend also.