Power goes for eighth title

SÉAMUS POWER has dominated the national inter-counties cross-country chapionships for the past seven years, and there is nothing to indicate that he will not win a record eighth title at Donoughmore, Co Cork, tomorrow.

The challenge to his supremacy has been weakened by the withdrawal of two of the main contenders during the week. Keith Kelly, now back to his best after a year of injury, was to have returned to Ireland for the event but will now remain on in the US for the Manchester Road Race. Cathal Lombard (Leevale) would have gone into the race as favourite on the back of his big win in the Reebok Cross-Country Challenge in Birmingham a few weeks ago, but he was forced to withdraw during the week suffering from a virus which he said had just knocked the stuffing out of him.

The Dublin-based solicitor had beaten a high-class field in Birmingham and admitted that up to last Monday he was in the form of his life. Both he and Keith Kelly will be available for selection when the selectors name the teams for the European championships on Monday and it appears as if the man who could be Ireland’s new middle distance sensation, Alastair Cragg, a South African of Irish extraction, will also be on the short list. A student at the University of Arkansas, he will be one of the medal favourites in the NCAA championships on Monday.