O'Sullivan may run Worlds in France

Athletics: Athletics Ireland have hinted that Sonia O'Sullivan is set to run next month's World Cross Country in St Etienne, France.

Provisional Irish teams were selected after last Saturday's National championships in Santry, and will be formally announced later this week after a final check on availability.

O'Sullivan had indicated her interest in running the event, set for March 19th-20th, as part her final preparations for the London Marathon on April 17th.

Currently training in Australia, her participation would significantly strengthen the women's team, who three years ago won bronze medals.

The top three home in Santry were guaranteed selection, and than means Jolene Byrne, Maria McCambridge and Fionnualla Britton are already destined for France, mostly likely as part of the long-course team.

Similarly, the men's team will be fronted by Gary Murray, Mark Kenneally and Paul McNamara. All three have confirmed their participation. Athletics Ireland invited Séamus Power to join them, but he has declined.

However, there are still hopes that Alistair Cragg will be on the plane. For now, however, Cragg is entirely focused on the European Indoor championships, which open in Madrid on Friday week.

His seven minutes, 39.89 seconds clocking for 3,000 metres remains the fastest time in the world this season, and it seems the gold medal will be decided between himself and Reyes Estevez, who won the Spanish championships at the weekend in 8:07.71, but also ran 7:43.80 earlier this month.

Athletics Ireland have increased to 14 the number of athletes bound for Madrid, with next Sunday the final date for selection.

There were guideline standards laid down, but the final word on selection rests with the federation, and three athletes have been added on that basis.

Jer O'Donoghue and Emily Maher (both 60 metres) and Róisín McGettigan (1,500 metres) were deemed to have come close enough and shown enough form to merit selection.

O'Donoghue has run 6.76 seconds, just short of the 6.75 standard, while Maher has run 7.42, similarly short of the 7.40 standard.

McGettigan also ran an indoor mile in 4:32.35, which equates to the 4:16.0 required for the 1,500 metres.

Dundrum's David Gillick has been relegated to number three on the 400 metres European list after the Spanish and French championships at the weekend. David Canal ran a Spanish record of 45.93 in Madrid to top the list, while Leslie Djhone won the French title in 46.33.

However, Gillick's season's best of 46.43 still leaves him in the hunt for the medals.

CURRENT IRISH SQUAD FOR MADRID

Women: Ailis McSweeney, Emily Maher (60 meters), Ciara Sheehy (200 metres), Róisín McGettigan (1,500 metres), Derval O'Rourke (60 metre hurdles), Deirdre Byrne (high jump).

Men: Jer O'Donoghue (60 metres), Paul Hession, Paul Brizzel (200 metres); David Gillick, Rob Daly, David McCarthy (400 metres), Alistair Cragg, Mark Carroll (3,000 metres).