CORMAC FINNERTY is back in Mullingar for the start of a two-part programme, which he hopes will establish him as a central personality in Irish athletics this year.

Finnerty has returned from the United States for tomorrow's national cross country championship at Whitechurch, Co Cork, where victory would almost certainly carry the bonus of qualification for the world championship at Turin in three week's time.

That, in turn, could smooth the way to a successful track season, in which his big objective will be a place in the starting line-up for the world 10,000 metres championship at Athens in August.

For the first time in recent history, BLE has decided against sending either men's or women's teams to the showpiece of the international cross country season in Italy - a break with tradition which has as much to do with finance as anything else.

There are indications, however, that they will not be averse to ratifying individual entries for Turin and Finnerty, on form, may well be one of those to benefit. He has only recently finished a programme of altitude training in Colorado and reckons that his current form is sufficiently good to warrant the expense of the journey home.

At the opposite end of the scale, John Downes, who took the title in such impressive fashion last season, is not travelling from London to defend it after encountering fitness problems in his preparation.

Coincidentally, Noel Cullen, the runner-up to Downes 12 months ago, has also had injury problems, but, like fellow Dubliner and another former winner, Peter Matthews, he still intends to take his place at the start.

For some years now, the men's championship has tended to be overshadowed by the women's equivalent, a fact which derived in the main from Catherina McKiernan's outstanding international performances.

McKiernan has decided against breaking training in New Mexico to run in tomorrow's race, but like Sonia O'Sullivan, if she so chooses, she will be offered the opportunity of running as an individual in Turin.

Marie McMahon and Kathy McCandless, two other Olympians, will also be marked absent tomorrow through injury, but with Una English returning from Switzerland to join Maureen Harrington and Geraldine Hendriken in a concerted challenge to holder, Teresa Duffy, it promises to be an absorbing race.