Before Catherina McKiernan (Cornafean AC) set the Irish National marathon record of 2:22:23 in 1998, she was celebrated for the four consecutive silver medals she won in World Cross Country competitions spanning 1992-1995. A few injuries and a child later, McKiernan the harrier is back. She placed second to Veerle Dejaeghere (Belgium) at the Lotto Cross Cup van Vlaanderen in Ghent, Belgium on 2nd November. McKiernan ran 18.00, a mere 4 seconds adrift of Dejaeghere.
Ireland entered a Junior men's team with Dundrum South Dublin's Joe Sweeney placing 4th in 22.12. DSD teammate Alan McCormack placed 11th in 22.28 with Raheny's Richard Corcoran in 16th (22.40) followed by Jamie McCarthy (Riverstick) who placed 18th in 22.43 and Leevale's Mark Hanrahan in 20th with a time of 22.48. Colin McCourt (Great Britain) won the Junior Men's race in 21.44.
Joseph Sweeney
photo by Tim O'Dowd
