Running Shorts: McGlynn to make debut

ANNE MARIE McGLYNN, who captained the Irish team at the European Cross-Country last December, makes her steeplechase debut at Friday's Letterkenny Sub 4 Minute Mile Challenge International.

Leevale's Michelle Finn, Kerry O'Flaherty of Newcastle and Dunboyne's Sara Treacy are all chasing the Olympic standard of nine minutes 45 seconds and and McGlynn aims to join them.

The Irish trio will will be pushed hard by the American contingent including Jamie Cheever, Sarah Pease, Mary Goldkamp, Addie Bracy and Maggie Callahan, along with Scotland's Lennie Waite, Germany's Ronja Bohrer and Uganda's Juliet Chekwell.

McCormack is the best of the Irish

SARAH McCORMACK, who lives and trains in the English Lake District, finished 16th and best of the Irish at the European Mountain Running Championships in Porto Moniz, on the island of Madeira.

On a tough, uphill only course, Sarah Mulligan of DSD finished just three places behind for 19th in the women's race.

Winner for a record fourth was the legendary Austrian mountain runner Andrea Mayr.

With Brian MacMahon of Clonliffe a late withdrawal from the team, it was left to Raheny's Ian Conroy to lead the Irish men home in 32nd place behind Norway's Johan Bugge.