Belgrade baptism of fire for Irish 

None of the eight Irish competitors had competed at the event before and on a hot, sunny day in the Serbian capital, with temperatures of 27 degrees, it proved a baptism of fire. 

TOUGH SLOG: Hugh Armstrong of Ireland. Pic: David Fitzgerald, Sportsfile

They call it the world’s toughest race for a reason, and the eight Irish athletes learned the harsh reality of that at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade on Saturday.

Hugh Armstrong produced the standout run in the senior races, the Mayo man coming home 50th in the men’s race, while Anna Gardiner was the leading Irish junior, finishing 37th in the women’s U-20 race.