Britton and Pollock race to glory

Athletics: Fionnuala Britton romped to her fifth GloHealth Inter-Counties Cross-Country Championships title in Dundalk yesterday while Paul Pollock defended his crown in a thrilling three-way sprint finish.

Britton dominated the senior women’s 8,000m race, winning by 65 seconds in 26:59.

Michelle Finn (Leevale) and Laura Crowe (An Riocht) had excellent runs in finishing second and third in 28:04 and 28:11 respectively.

Britton will race in France at the Cross de L’Acier in two weeks’ time and feels she can go into the European Cross-Country Championships in Samokov in Bulgaria with a positive outlook.

Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise) took the U23 title which was run in conjunction with the senior race in 29:38.

In the men’s 10,000m race, Annadale Striders’ Paul Pollock came up trumps in an exciting tussle with Leevale’s Mark Hanrahan and Raheny Shamrocks’ Mick Clohisey.

Pollock retained his title in sprint finish in 30:40 with Hanrahan second in 30:42 and Clohisey third in 30:43. Liam Brady (Tullamore Harriers) won the U23 race in 31:43.