Promising Cullen on the right track

RAY TREACY, Director of Track and Field at Providence College, was thrilled with the performance of protégé Mary Cullen at the European cross-country championships in Tilburg.

“She was right up there in fourth position at one stage and was fifth going out on the final lap of the senior race. Were it not for the fact that she fell I believe she would have been higher up but, under the circumstances, 11th was a great finish for her,” said Treacy.

Cullen was plagued by a series of stress fractures during her early years at Providence but is now enjoying an injury free spell and reaching her full potential

“She has qualified at 10,000m for next year’s European championships and now I would like to see her qualify at 5,000m,” said Treacy. “I would not be sure about the world cross-country championships. There is a good track meet at Stanford around that time which might be the place for that 5,000m run.”

Meanwhile, International Secretary Liam Hennessy admitted Ireland may not have full teams at next April’s World cross-country championships in Japan.

“We will make no decision until after the inter-club championships when we can see who is available and the quality of the athletes available to us. Then we will decide who we might send and what event they will go in. But we will be represented at the world championships, there is no doubt about that.”