McCarthy defends title as McKiernan returns

THE distance runners will reclaim the limelight from the sprinters at the national inter-club cross-country championships on Sunday in Roscommon where Catherina McKiernan makes an overdue return to domestic competition.

While she will ensure huge interest in the senior women’s race, the men’s race promises to be a thriller with last year’s winner, Martin McCarthy, defending his title against Seamus Power and Peter Matthews, both three-time winners of the title.

McCarthy, Power and Matthews are in the midst of their preparations for the London Marathon where the now realistic Olympic qualifying standard will be the target.