O'Sullivan not to run in cross country

ATHLETICS / News round-up: Sonia O'Sullivan has turned down the offer of joining the Irish team for next month's World Cross Country Championships in St Etienne, France. Originally she had hoped to use the event as part of her preparations for the London Marathon on April 17th, but her recent form has forced her to think otherwise.

While her training in Australia has progressed reasonably well in recent weeks, O'Sullivan's 13th place finish in last Sunday's Chiba International cross country in Japan fell well short of expectations. The 35-year-old found herself dropped after just 2km of the 6km race, and her finishing time of 20 minutes 50 seconds was almost a minute behind Japan's winner Miwako Yamanka.

It appears that unless things improve significantly over the coming weeks her participation in London will also be reconsidered. Her partner Nic Bideau has indicated she would only compete if she felt she was in a position to do herself justice, and right now that does not appear to be the case.

O'Sullivan's withdrawal was offset somewhat by the news that Alistair Cragg has declared for both the long and short-course races. He'll first contest the short course on March 19th, a race in which he finished 16th last year, and then join the Irish team for the long-course race the following day.

Cragg's more immediate goal remains a medal at the European Indoor Championships, which start in Madrid this day week. He still holds the fastest 3,000 metres time in the world this year. Cragg will be joined in the Europeans by James Nolan who booked his place when finishing fifth over 1,500 metres in three minutes, 41.59 seconds in Madrid last night.

Joining Cragg on the long-course team is newly crowned national champion Gary Murray, while US-based Vincent Mulvey was selected on the basis of current form.

Following confirmation of O'Sullivan's withdrawal, it was decided the women's team would contest the short-course race, to be led by national champion Jolene Byrne and the next four finishers from last Sunday's national interclubs in Santry. Mary Margaret Meade of Belfast completes the team subject to fitness, as the sixth place finisher in Santry, Breda Dennehy Willis, wasn't available.

As expected Athletics Ireland decided against sending junior teams, and national junior champions Danny Darcy and Rose Anne Galligan will instead be joined by two individuals - Paul Pollock and Linda Byrne.

Seámus Power also declined a place on the Irish team, but will compete in this Sunday's Rás na hEireann, to be staged in St Feickin's GAA grounds in Termonfeckin at 2.15, while New Zealand's Kim Smith leads the women's race (2.45).

Meanwhile, former world half marathon silver medallist Susan Chepkemei has been dropped from the Kenyan team for the world cross country championships, Athletics Kenya said yesterday. Chepkemei (29) failed to report to the national team's residential training camp in Embu, some 250km north-east of Nairobi, by Wednesday's deadline. Her replacement is likely to be Doris Changeiywo.

IRELAND (Teams for World Cross Country, March 19th-20th): SENIOR MEN: Long course: Gary Murray (St Malachy's), Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers), Paul McNamara (Athenry), Joe McAllister (St Malachy's), Vinny Mulvey (Raheny Shamrock), Alistair Cragg (Clonliffe Harriers); Short course: Alistair Cragg (Clonliffe Harriers); SENIOR WOMEN: Short course: Jolene Byrne (Donore Harriers), Maria McCambridge (Dundrum South Dublin), Fionnuala Britton (Sli Chulainn), Pauline Curley (Tullamore Harriers), Mary Margaret Meade (North Belfast Harriers, subject to fitness), Niamh O'Sullivan (Riocht); JUNIOR MEN: Danny Darcy (St Laurence O'Toole), Paul Pollock (Abbey); JUNIOR WOMEN: Rose Anne Galligan (Newbridge), Linda Byrne (Dundrum South Dublin).