special to irishrunner.com by Tim O'Dowd

Fionnuala Britton, Ireland's lone entry in the 35th IAAF World Cross Championships held in Mombassa, Kenya on 24th March 2007 placed 14th in the Senior Women's event. Britton, who competes for Slí Chúlainn AC covered the 8k course in 28.45.

Kenyan-born winner Lornah Kiplagat who now competes for the Netherlands, won the race in 26.23. Britton, who attends and competes for Dublin City University was in 24th position at the end of the first lap and moved up four spots during the second circuit. Britton was in 18th place and the end of the third lap before passing four more in the finishing stretch.

Britton's performance is especially impressive given the extreme heat with race time temperature hovering at 33°C (91°F).

Britton has had a brilliant 2007 cross country season. She placed 6th (24.00, 6,700m) in Edinburgh on 13th January and 5th (19.29, 5,500m) in Hannut, Belgium a fortnight later (28th January).

Britton qualified for these World Cross Country Championships by winning the Irish Senior Women's Inter Club Cross Country Championships at the Sligo Racecourse on 10th March, upsetting favourite Mary Cullen in front of her home crowd. Britton, 22, covered the 8-kilometre course in 29.11, some 24-seconds ahead of runner-up Cullen.

Britton placed 2nd in the European U-23 European Cross Country Championships held in San Giorgio su Legnano, Italy on 9th December.