Special to Irish Runner.com by Malcolm McCausland

Catherina McKiernan is the headline performer for the 2004 version of the Stormont International Cross Country meeting sponsored by the NI Events Company and Reebok.

Details of the televised meeting which goes ahead on Saturday, January 10 were revealed at a press launch in the Maynard Sinclair Pavilion at Stormont on 2nd December, and also features World 1,500m fourth placer Jo Pavey and AAA 5000m champion Andrew Graffin.

McKiernan has already had a double celebration this week with a 34th birthday on Sunday and her inclusion in Ireland's team for the European Cross Country in Edinburgh on December 14 despite missing the trial through influenza. The selection culminated a remarkable comeback by the former London Marathon winner after being out of the sport for several years through injury and starting a family.

McKiernan who was an impressive winner of the Margate International last month denies she has ambitions of a podium place in the Europeans eleven years after winning the inaugural race. "We look likely to have a strong team and I just want to help Ireland produce a good performance, rather than worrying about my individual position," said McKiernan. "Although I started running again in August of last year, five months after giving birth, it was January when I decided to really give it a go again. It has been a long way back but the important thing is I am enjoying running so much at the moment."

The presence of the Cavan woman will guarantee an atmosphere second to none at Stormont with her boasting perhaps the most vociferous bunch of supporters in this or perhaps any other country. Jo Pavey's record over recent years in British athletics is bettered only by Paula Radcliffe. Now aged 30, the Exeter woman ranked 6th in the world over 3000 metres in 2002 before switching to 1500 metres this summer.

She recorded a personal best of 4.02.03 on the way to the World final in Paris where former Stormont athlete Hayley Tullet took the bronze medal. Pavey has in top form this winter, having won the British European trial in Liverpool 12 days ago.

Graffin will be looking forward to returning to Northern Ireland after beating a top class field to win the 1500 metres at the North Down International in a personal best time two summers ago.

Leading the local challenge for possibly the last time will be Dermot Donnelly. The eight times NI Cross Country champion has signalled his intention to hang up his spikes at the end of next summer's track season. The Annadale Strider had a superlative run last year to make the top ten after setting the pace in the early stages.

The list of former winners at the meeting reads like a Who's Who of athletics with Paula Radcliffe, Steve Cram, Steve Ovett, John Treacy, Kalid Skah, Liz McColgan, Brendan Foster as well as a host of world-class Africans on the roll of honour.