Byrne undaunted by Irish Cross-Country team debut

Irish U-23 athlete Linda Byrne is making her first senior athletics outing for her country this weekend, and they don't come much bigger than this – the World Cross-Country Championships.

The Dundrum South Dublin athlete travels to Edinburgh brimming with confidence following a third place finish at the recent Irish Inter Club Cross-Country Championship in Belfast.

Byrne will be part of a six-strong senior women's team competing at the championships, which includes top distance runner Fionnuala Britton and late call-up Annette Kealey.

Byrne – who is still eligible to compete at U-23 level this season - says she is not daunted by the step up to World Senior level and under the guidance of Irish team manager Anne Keenan-Buckley, she is hoping to contribute to the Irish team's points total in Sunday's event.