Britton gets balance right with new deal

Fionnuala Britton, who takes on Olympic 5,000m champion Meseret Defar (Ethiopia) over 3,000m in Karlsruhe this weekend, was the headline athlete at the announcement of the new partnership between New Balance and Athletics Ireland last night.

“I’m honoured to be part of Team New Balance,” said the two in-a-row European Cross Country champion. “To have its support and innovative products behind me will really help my development as a runner.”

Her development as a runner will see her take on the might of the Africans indoors this weekend with this preparation looking to culminate in a medal-winning performance at the European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg (March 1-3) and a top 10 placing at the World Cross Country Championships in Poland (March 24).