Athletics: Power battles through pain barrier to take ninth title

SÉAMUS POWER took the national Inter-counties Cross-Country Championships to a new level in Belvedere, Mullingar, yesterday, when he once again battled his way through the pain barrier to win the title for an amazing ninth successive time.

Rosemary Ryan (Bilbao) won the women's title for a second time and local star, Mark Christie, enjoyed an impressive first junior title.

Not for the first time, the Clareman had to come overcome a crisis to take the title that has become his own although this time it may not have appeared as serious as Ballyhaise a few years ago when he literally came from nowhere to win.