The homecoming yesterday of Catherina McKiernan after the excitement of her Flora London marathon triumph 24 hours earlier, was another of those happy occasions which enrich sport.

It was also an opportunity for those who administer athletics in this country to beat the drum for their sport and the structures which make such widely acclaimed victories possible.

Prophets of doom and gloom - and their numbers are increasing worldwide - would have us believe that the first of the sporting disciplines is dangerously ill and that nothing short of radical therapy can now rescue it.

Yet, no discipline has produced more international success, no group of sports people have brought more honour to this country than athletics and those who channel their talent into it.

Historically, it is one of the most global and, by extension, competitive of all events. Only football, with its ability to transcend the generations, can match it in terms of universal appeal.

Yet, even in this demanding arena, Irish sports people of both genders, have achieved international success with a regularity which may be the envy of many bigger countries.

It is true that the careers of many of those superstars were refined on the American collegiate circuit. It is equally valid to suggest that the same system has proved the ruination of many more of these talented youngsters.

Neither can there be much doubt that without the oft-maligned volunteer corps to supplement the professionals at the top, it would not be possible to sustain the structures which make such successes possible.

Undeniably, there have been difficulties over the years. But the problem of imposing a professional overlay on organisations which depend heavily on a voluntary input is neither exclusively Irish nor attaching to athletics alone.

It's an uneasy coalition worldwide but as long as it continues to produce champions with such refreshing regularity in Ireland and repay the taxpayer for the monies which are necessary to sustain it, its existence is easily justified.

The latest success of Catherina McKiernan, a protege of the home-based system, testifies to the merits of an infrastructure which, warts and all, continues to serve the sport well in this country.

Before leaving London yesterday, McKiernan attended the traditional press conference for the Flora winners and in response to a questioner who suggested, rather oddly, that the pressures of winning a big race like London would force her to leave home, surprised nobody when she confirmed that she has no plans to live abroad.

Last year's 60-mile house move from Cavan to Dublin is the biggest concession she intends making to those who query the feasibility of athletes achieving international success from a home base.

Pursued by the British media, she said: "I have no thoughts of moving. I have won things before and coped. Everybody will be talking about this for a while and I'll probably have to hide for a few days. Then things will die down as people get on with their own business."

McKiernan, who said that she will use part of her winnings to complete the furnishing of her home in Dublin, will consult with her coach Joe Doonan over the next few weeks to determine her racing plans.

Already, it is fairly certain that she will bypass the European marathon championship at Budapest in August and her next competitive run at the distance may be at either New York or Berlin in the autumn. There are many who would dearly love to see her win the Dublin Marathon in October but without substantial extra sponsorship, it is difficult to visualise a situation in which it would be economically viable for her to run in the race.

Confirmation of her new status as one of the great marathon runners in the world means that her love-hate relationship with the track is now likely to be more tenuous than ever.

There will be few if any track appearances by McKiernan in the summer, although in exceptional circumstances it is just possible that she will be tempted to run in the 10,000 metres championship at Budapest.