Britton bidding to join the greats
Britton created history last year by becoming the first woman to successfully defend the European Cross Country title, but knows she has some rungs to climb before she can be counted in that exalted company.
In the 90s and early 2000s, O’Sullivan and McKiernan were to the fore of world class female distance running. Their CVs combined include double gold at the world cross country, multiple world and European track titles, an Olympic silver medal (O’Sullivan), four world cross country silvers, an inaugural European cross country title and a world’s fastest debut marathon (McKiernan).
It may seem a daunting challenge but there is nobody more determined than Britton to bridge the gap — a gap that McKiernan believes she can close.
“Fionnuala has the enthusiasm and the willpower,” said McKiernan who won the inaugural European cross country title back in 1994.
These qualities will be critical over 8km for the Kilcoole AC athlete, who will have to overcome the odds to defend her title for a third year in a row.
The cool conditions in Belgrade, forecasted four degrees on race day, will be of little concern to Britton, who won in the snow in Budapest last year. Of more concern will be depletion of the Irish women’s team due to injuries. With the absence of Linda Byrne, Ava Hutchinson, Sarah McCormack and Mary Cullen, the chances of defending the team title are nigh impossible.
Britton missed the summer due to illness and finished a disappointing 7th in her last race. However coach Chris Jones insisted the big target is the European Track & Field Championships next summer in Zurich.
The natural terrain of cross country has proven an excellent precursor for success on the track but in recent years the discipline has been in decline, with dwindling popularity amongst athletes and fans alike.
It is an area the IAAF, the world governing body for athletics, is keen to address and Sonia O’Sullivan will be in attendance in Serbia for a seminar on cross-country running to tackle these issues.
“My area is the importance of cross-country running in relation to how it benefits and effectively leads to a good track season,” said the Cork running legend before boarding her flight from Melbourne to Belgrade.
“The reason for the conference is to explore the decline of cross-country running globally,” added O’Sullivan who won double gold over 4km and 8km at the world cross country championships in Marrakech in 1998.
“It is still very important in Ireland, the UK, USA, Australia and of course the dominating African countries in recent times, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania.
“We want to see how can we regain the importance of cross-country running and encourage more — particularly European — countries to field teams and increase numbers of participants where traditionally cross-country running was very important and seen as a precursor to a successful track season.”
O’Sullivan believes the scheduling of the European cross country in December is too early and creates a challenge for the likes of Britton to be in peak condition for the summer season.
“The world cross country is at the perfect time in March,” said O’Sullivan. “The Europeans is not ideal and would probably be better placed in late February or March as a lead up to the world cross and a building block to the upcoming track season.
“This is one of the challenges Fionnuala has in that she is super fit in December but it is six months out from the track season and even further away from the major championships.
“It is impossible to carry this form through and there is no proven formula of athletes running at their best in December replicating this in the European summer time when all the major championships take place.”
The European Cross-Country Championships will act as a platform for greater success and Paul Robinson and Paul Pollock, in the men’s U23 and senior races respectively, will be viewing this as a real opportunity to medal.
Fionnuala Britton's biggest challenges will come from Great Britain’s Gemma Steele, France’s Sophie Duarte, Norway’s Karoline Grovdal and Ana Dulce Felix of Portugal.
This will be National Endurance Coach Chris Jones’s first championship at the helm. They have prepared meticulously with an altitude training camp and regular physiological testing.
The Irish team flew on the red eye 6am flight on Friday morning. Such travel arrangements are questionable for the biggest race of the winter. Britton opted to travel a day earlier.
Paul Pollock believes he has a chance to win gold in the senior men’s race after giving up his doctor’s post to become a full-time athlete. He was 21st in the marathon at the world championships but this will be a big test. The challengers include Andy Vernon of Great Britain, Alemayehu Bezabeh of Spain and Akhan of Turkey.
Ireland has teams in the junior women’s 4km, junior men’s 6km, U23 men’s 8km. senior women’s 8km and senior men’s 10km. Generally the ambition will be top placings in the team categories with opportunities to medal for the senior and U23 men’s teams. Full teams can be seen on athleticsireland.ie.
There has been an influx of African runners in European countries, with some lured by financial incentives by Turkey. It is adding to the decline of European distance running.
Participation is down in the Europeans. There are only six senior women’s teams with Russia not sending any senior squads.
There will be live coverage on RTÉ from 12pm and also on BBC. There will also be a live feed here if you want to see the action in full.
There will also be further in depth analysis on jumpingthegun.ie.
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