Murray powers to Cross Country title

St Malachy's Gary Murray powered to his first ever Irish Cross Country title at Santry today - booking his place in next month's World Championships in France, in the process.

Murray - eighth in last year's event - became the first Donegal man to be crowned national champion since 1952, when timing 37 minutes and eight seconds for the 12-kilometre course, twenty seconds clear of Clonliffe's Mark Kenneally.

The 24-year-old Murray blew off four-time winner Seamus Power after eight kilometres. Dublin City Harriers' Paul McNamara beat out 10,000m national champion Joe McAllister for bronze.

In the women's event, Donore Harriers' Jolene Byrne claimed his first title, gaining revenge for her defeat at the hands of Maria McCambridge in December's Inter-Counties clash - when coming home nine seconds ahead of the Dubliner, in 28:25. Nineteen-year-old Fionnuala Britton was third in 29:24.

In the shorter junior events, SLOT schools star Danny D'Arcy was victorious in 26:57, while Newbridge's Rose Anne Galligan, 18, won the girls' title in 9:25.

The top three seniors are automatically through to the Worlds, with the full Ireland squad to be confirmed following the national Short Course Championships in Tymon Park on March 6.