Fionnuala Britton finishes 2nd in Belgium in top quality race...

European Cross Country Champion Fionnuala Britton finished an impressive second place at the Iris Lotto CrossCup in Brussels, Belgium on Sunday 23rd of December. Facing a number of top class athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia, Fionnuala held off most of the field to finish in second place, just three seconds behind the Ethiopian athlete Ruit Aga in first place.

Senior Women...6,000m
1. Ruti Aga (ETH) 20.48
2. Fionuala Britton (IRL) 20.51
3. Elini Gebriwoth (ETH) 21.20
4. Caroline Chepkwoni (KEN) 21.24
5. Veerle Dejaeghere (BEL) 21.31
6. Cynthia Kosgei (KEN) 21.35
7. Emily Stewart (GBR) 21.37
8. Barbara Maveau (BEL) 21.45
9. Almensh Belete (BEL) 21.58
10 .Fabienne Schlump (SUI) 22.00

The race also included European U23 champion Jess Coulson of Great Britain, who had beaten Fionnuala at the IAAF Cross Country race in Spain in early November.

In a post race interview, Fionnuala Britton said that she was thrilled about her second place finish.........."I love to run on this course in Brussels and the rain and the wind did not disturb me too much. I had a bad start and I needed to do some effort to get to the front of the race. I was in contention all the time although I didn’t feel very prepared for this race. After winning a second consecutive European title, training doesn’t get the focus that it usually gets."

Fionnuala Britton’s next race will be the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country on the 5th of January, followed by the Antrim IAAF Cross Country on January 12th.