Power can lead his club to the title

ATHLETICS: It's rare that the AAI club cross country championships produce clear-cut favourites for both the men's individual and team titles. Yet that is the case for Sunday's event, which takes place at the ALSAA course next to Dublin Airport.

Seamus Power remains unbeaten on the domestic front this season and only a major drop in form would see him fail to defend his individual title. Winning the National Indoor 3,000 metre title last Sunday has also given him a final boost of confidence.

Over 12km of cross country, however, a

lot can happen, and Dundrum's Peter Mathews, Raheny's Vinnie Mulvey and Cork's Martin McCarthy are all capable of winning should Power hit an off day. The experienced Noel Berkeley, too, will always fancy his chances.

Dundrum South-Dublin will also have

the opposition challenging for the runner-up spot if their team race goes to plan. Last

year they were convincing winners over Clonliffe, and with Mathews, Berkeley, Cormac Smith and Robert Connolly their depth appears unbeatable in the team competition.

The women's individual title is a little less clear-cut, though it looks set to be decided between Anne Keenan-Buckley and Rosemary Ryan. Like Power, Keenan-Buckley has been untouchable by Irish opposition so far this season, but Ryan upset her in Monaghan last year to win the title and is coming into the sort of form to repeat the win on Sunday.

The top three finishers in both the senior and junior races are guaranteed selection

for the World Cross Country Championships in Leopardstown on March 23rd-24th, and

that will ensure it is the most competitive championships of recent years.

The complete teams for Leopardstown, however, will not be decided until after the short course trials at the same course on March 10th.

AAI CLUB CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS - Sunday: Junior women - 1.0; Junior men - 1.30; Senior women - 2.15; Senior men - 2.45.