Britton bids to bounce back

Fionnuala Britton bids to get 2014 off to a good start at the Antrim IAAF International Cross Country event in Greenmount today in a stellar line-up while Paul Pollock will have to pit his wits against world cross country champion Japhet Korir of Kenya.

Britton had a disappointing end to 2013, having missed the summer through illness and then finishing fourth at the European Cross Country Championships in Serbia on December 8.

The Kilcoole AC athlete has been returning to form though and just two weeks ago she claimed an impressive third in the Lotto Cross Cup cross country meeting in Brussels, where she finished six seconds behind European U23 champion Sifan Hassan.

The 5.6km course, which also incorporates the Northern Ireland and Ulster Senior Cross Country Championships, will be soft underfoot after heavy rain and the challenging running conditions should suit the diminutive Wicklow woman who is seeking a third successive win in Greenmount.

Britton faces tough competition from Britain’s Gemma Steel who is in superb form following her silver in Belgrade and a series of personal bests in road races last year.

Steel’s team-mate, European U23 bronze medallist Charlotte Purdue, will also be in contention for the top spot — she has enjoyed success at Antrim, taking the title in 2011.

Also in the mix will be Bahrain’s Maryam Jamal who has two world titles over 1,500 metres and is the bronze medallist from the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The senior men’s 10.8km event should provide an exhibition of cross country running with reigning world champion Korir of Kenya and British international, Andy Vernon, who claimed bronze in the European championship in Belgrade.

Paul Pollock, who trains with Vernon in Teddington in London, will be looking to make up for his disappointing 26th place at the Europeans last month. The international programme gets underway at 1:40pm.

Meanwhile in Athlone tomorrow, Athletics Ireland will have the first round of their new indoor club league, with action getting underway at midday. The event will consist of 60m, 60m hurdles, 800m, shot put, long jump and the pole vault.