As part of her preparation for the European Cross Country Championships in December, Fionnuala McCormack was in action in a high class cross country race in Spain. On a course that was just over 8kms in lenght, the Irish athlete finished first.
Report from the IAAF.....
McCormack in a class of her own
Held before the men’s race, the women’s 8060m event saw a magnificent display of determination by McCormack, the 2011 & 2012 European cross country champion.
The 32-year-old kicked off quietly, running comfortably at Ethiopian Etenesh Diro’s shoulder for the first half of the race. Shortly after the 2000m mark McCormack and Diro were already a class apart, with only Spanish champion Trihas Gebre, running five seconds behind still maintaining contact.
But the in-form Irishwoman broke away with incredible ease some 14 minutes into the race and from then offered a brave solo effort to the delight of the large crowd assembled. Even with her win secured before the final lap, McCormack maintained top gear to cruise to a 38-second victory, 200 metres ahead of the Ethiopian. Gebre was third another 25 seconds back.
McCormack produced fourth, sixth and fourth place finished respectively at the European championships after her back-to-back victories, and is eager to return to the continental podium in the Italian city of Chia in two weeks’ time.
“Wow, it was a very tough race because of the muddy circuit,” McCormack said. “Sometimes it wasn’t easy to know how close or far the others were so I just decided to run as quickly as possible.”
When asked about how her pre-championships form compares with that of 2012, McCormack was cautious.
“That was long ago so I don’t remember now exactly, but I feel OK now and look forward to fighting in Chia.”
McCormack confirmed that she’ll likely not compete on the track indoors in 2017, choosing to prepare instead for a spring marathon. McCormack clocked a lifetime marathon best of 2:31:22 at the Rio 2016 Olympics, finishing 20th.
Women (8060m)
1. Fionnuala Mc Cormack (IRL) 28:18
2. Etenesh Diro (ETH) 28:56
3. Trihas Gebre (ESP) 29:21
4. Irene Sánchez (ESP) 29:53
5. Alessandra Aguilar (ESP) 30:11
6. Iris Fuentes Pila (ESP) 30:15
7. Azucena Díaz (ESP) 30:17
8. Veronica Inglese (ITA) 30:18
9. Ana Lozano(ESP) 30:26
10. Tania Carretero (ESP) 30:36
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