Anne Keenan Buckley led the Irish women to a second place finish (41 points) behind Kenya, which won, with 23 points at the Belfast International Cross Country ~ Incorporating Reebok Belfast Cross Challenge held on 11th January 2003 at Stormont Estate, Belfast, North Ireland. Keenan Buckley covered the 5-kilometre course in 17.14 and commented, "I am pleased enough, but I am disappointed to have lost third place. I ran hard from the front. It is the way I run but I knew they were sitting there and were going to put the pressure on come the fourth lap. But it was great to work together with Maria." Regarding the upcoming World Cross Country Championships in Switzerland in March she said, "The main aim is to get a team medal and for me to probably get higher than 10th."

Maria McCambridge was the second Irish runner in placing 16th 18.00. Slí Chúlainn's Fionnuala Britton who turned 18 in September and still has two years of eligibility as a junior, continues to get valuable senior experience placing 28th in 18.58.

Top Irish Senior Women - 5k
1) Werknesh Kidane (Ethiopia) 16.46; 5) Anne Keenan Buckley (North Laois) 17.14; 16) Maria McCambridge (Dundrum South Dublin) 18.00; 20) Aoife Byrne (DSD) 18.12; 21) Valerie Vaughan (Blarney/Inniscara AC) 18.16; 28) Fionnuala Britton (Slí Chúlainn AC) 18.58; 29) Gladys Ganiel (Dundrum South Dublin) 18.59; 30) Louise Kavanagh (University County Cork) 19.01; 31) Catriona McGranaghan (Finn Valley AC) 19.01

Top Irish Senior Men - 8k
1) Sergey Lebid (Ukraine) 24.45; 8) Dermot Donnelly (Annadale Striders) 25.08; 10) Gary Murray (St Malachy's AC) 25.24; 17) Mark Smyth (Sligo AC) 26.17 18) Joe McAllister (St Malachy's AC) 26.34; 21) Gary Crossan (Letterkenny AC) 26.48; 22) Pauric McKinney (Letterkenny AC) 27.12; 23) Gary Hynes (Civil Service) 27.15; 24) Gearoid O'Connor (Rathfarnham WSAF) 27.23

Mark Christie (Mullingar Harriers) won the men's U-20 5k race in 16.10 with Andrew Ledwith in third in 16.31.

In addition to the Senior races, competitions were held in the following categories: Boys & Girls U-13; Boys & Girls U-15; Boys & U17; Men's U-20 Championship and Veteran Men. Click here for complete results from the Northern Ireland Athletics Association website.