Five Cork Athletes selected for European Cross-Country Championships 2018

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Large Irish Contingent Selected for European Cross Country Championships

Tilburg, Netherlands

Sunday December 9th 2018

Five Cork Athletes, Michelle Finn, Leevale AC, Darragh Mcelhinney, Bantry AC, Stephanie Cotter, West Muskerry AC, Sophie O'Sullivan, Ballymore-cobh AC and Laura Nicholson, Bandon AC have been selected to represent Ireland at next month's European Cross-Country Championships

A thirty nine (39) strong team of Irish athletes has been selected for the 25th edition of the SPAR European Cross Country Championships, taking place in the Dutch city of Tilburg, on December 9th.

Tilburg has already played host to the European Cross Country Championships in 2005, however there is a different, purpose-built, venue for next month's event, which will take place on a challenging course, at the Beekse Bergen Safari Park, situated just to the south-east of Tilburg.

Ciara Mageean (UCD) and Kevin Dooney (Raheny Shamrock) will lead the senior teams, both having won respective titles at the Irish Life Health National Cross Country Championships, yesterday, at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus. The same venue will host the European Cross Country Championships in 2020.

Mageean is looking forward to the challenge: "I've had a really good winter and I'm looking forward to putting in a good showing at the European Cross."

National U23 champion Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock) and American-based Ryan Forsyth (Newcastle) will lead a strong U23 men’s team having finished 11th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships last week.

The U20 women’s team will also be in a strong position to challenge for medals led by Sarah Healy (Blackrock) who won double gold over 1500m and 3,000m at the European U18 Athletics Championships last summer. Also in the ranks in Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh) who won silver over 800m at that same event.

It is an exciting proposition to have such a large team, with a view to Dublin 2020. This will provide the perfect platform for them.

High Performance Director Paul McNamara said:“We’re excited about this team’s prospects for Tilburg, both in terms of making an impact here and now, but also as it’s an important stepping stone on the road to Abbottstown 2020.

“This season has demonstrated improved depth and quality in the under age categories, and as a result we’ve selected both U23 teams for the first time since 2014. Both U20 teams look strong and can certainly build on their solid showing in Slovakia last year. Some of our leading senior women are unavailable but the selected team has a lot of experience and ability and will look to make an impact, while the senior men will look to build on a very positive result last year. The mixed relay is an exciting addition to the squad and should be capable of adding some value to Team Ireland’s prospects”  

European selection policy

Team selections for European Cross Country Championships

Tilburg, Netherlands

Sunday December 9

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