Cork braced for Power surge

ATHLETICS: Seamus Power will attempt to extend one of the longest winning streaks in the history of Irish sport in Sunday's National Inter-county cross country championships, to be held at Donoughmore in Cork.

The Clare athlete is seeking unprecedented eighth title in succession, and while he'll shortly turn 32 it's unlikely to be his last effort for glory.

"I suppose I'm as confident about Sunday as I would have been for any other year," he said yesterday. "I know I'll just have take whatever I get on the day, and there can always be someone new in there who could surprise you.

"But my training does indicate that I'm coming into good form. My build-up to this race hasn't changed a lot over the last eight years, and I know I'm coming into good shape at the right time. So it's going to take a good athlete to beat me."

The local Cork runners will provide the main opposition to Power. The Lombard brothers Cathal and Fiachra have recently produced some impressive results in the Reebok Challenge races in England, and their Leevale team-mate Martin McCarthy has shown excellent form on the roads.

Dublin's Peter Mathews will miss the race as he recovers from an injury, although Antrim's Gareth Turnbull, who was runner-up to Power in Dungarvan a year ago, is coming back to his best. New Dublin champion Mark Kenneally is also capable of breaking the streak.

Power has already shown signs of his finest form, finishing third behind two Kenyans in Ghent a couple of weeks back, and his mid-race surges are rarely matched in any sort of conditions.

Whatever the result on Sunday, Power will at least hope to gain selection for the European cross-country championships in Medulin, Croatia on December 8th. AAI will select the leading finishers in all four races, with US-based Keith Kelly already pre-selected on the senior men's team.

The senior women's race on Sunday is likely to be another duel between defending champion Ann Keenan-Buckley of Laois and Dublin's Maria McCambridge - with McCambridge in the form to reverse the result of a year ago.

Meanwhile, the Odyssey Arena in Belfast will host the upcoming National Indoor Championships on February 15-16th, 2003.