Dundrum runner bound for Athens

A successful personal appeal to the Olympic Council of Ireland has seen Dundrum South Dublin runner Maria McCambridge sensationally added to the nation's travelling party for the Athens Games.

The 29-year-old clocked a new 5000m personal best of 15:05.86 last weekend at the GP II meeting in Heusden, Belgium - inside the 15:08 'A' qualifying standard for the Olympics and marking her out as the seventh fastest European of 2004.

McCambridge succeeded in convincing OCI President Pat Hickey that she was unable to find a 5000m event of a suitably quality standard to clock her time inside the extended July 20 cut-off point.

Her inclusion boosts the track and field party to 15, with three-time Olympian Sonia O'Sullivan also lining up for the 5000m heats on August 20.