Fagan fifth in NCAA colleges race

Athletics: One of Ireland's best middle distance prospects, Martin Fagan, yesterday finished a highly respectable fifth place in the NCAA American Collegiate cross country championships, easily the most competitive college distance race.

Running in the colours of Providence College, where he is coached by fellow Irishman Ray Treacy, Fagan ran with the leaders for the most of the 10km distance before eventually settling on fifth.

Hosted by the University of Indiana at Terre Haute, the pace was typically hot up front with up to a dozen athletes chasing the individual title in the closing stages. Fagan was leading at 8km but eventually gave way to the stronger kickers, with Josh Rohatinsky of Brigham Young University surprising many to take the title, clocking 30 minutes 44 seconds.

Second place went to Stanford's Naftalem Aria, with Joseph Lomong of Arizona just holding off Fagan for fourth.

It was still a most rewarding run, improving on the 16th place he secured a year ago. At 23 it was Fagan's last chance to secure the title, but he'll come away knowing he gave it his best shot.

The Mullingar athlete was looking to become only the fourth Irishman to secure the coveted title, and follow in the footsteps of Neil Cusack, Séan Dollman, and Keith Kelly. Not even John Treacy could manage it, finishing second to Henry Rono in 1977, but then winning the world cross country five months later.

Fagan had been unbeaten in college races this season, winning his Northeast Region by 46 seconds. Rohatinsky had been troubled with injury in recent weeks but ran a tactically perfect race to capture his first individual honour in NCAA competition.

On the team front, New York's Iona University, coached by Irishman Mick Byrne, were third, behind winners Colorado, with Arkansas, coached by another Irish man John McDonnell, sixth.

Meanwhile, the Dublin Port Tunnel 10km, set for December 10th, has attracted a huge early entry of over 6,000 runners - and the 10,000 limit is expected to be reached in the coming days.

Organisers Clonliffe Harriers had urged all potential participants to enter before the deadline of November 30th. Entries must be completed online through www.activeeurope.com, which also has a link from Clonliffe's own homepage.

The race begins on the East Wall and follows the 4.5km tunnel, briefly exiting at Santry before returning into the tunnel to complete the race in the other direction.