Irish teams for European XC

Holly Knight 11th at ncaas. Good result but ive never heard of her. Bit like Michelle Gallagher was she irish or american?!

Fahy should be in u23team before Yeates. Womens u23 team could have3-4at the very back of the field. Hogan should be in before Quinn in mens junior. Carroll a surprise. Is Cragg retired? Lombard?

According to the Examiner Ciarán O Lionaird has pulled out of the mens u23 team

http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=sport-qqqa=sport-qqqid=78465-qqqx=1.asp

Article starts with Carroll's 5k road race win. 14.39 isn't exactly flying. Why was he running some Micky Mouse road race in the states on the same day as the trial? Surely if he wanted to do Europeans he should have been in the trial?

Are you guys seriously questioning whether or not Mark Carroll should be on the team. When you are the calibre of athlete that Mark is you have earned the right to determine whether you are in good enough shape to run the race. He has probably looked at the performances of Fagan and Ledwith and figured that with those two guys competing for top ten finishes the Irish team have a shot at a good team performance. If the thinks he is in shape to help - then he should run.

I don't agree.

Mark Carrol is a legend in his own right no doubt.

But he has stated he is retired. Was 4th Irish finisher in his last 10 miler a few months ago. Several minutes behind fagan. AND his 14.39 5km isn't anyway a good indicater (or a startling performance) he is ready for Euro Cross Champs.

In being picked he is selected ahead of Joe Mcallister who ran the trial and earned his place.

Like I said Carrol is a legend but so is Bob Kennedy and he isn't going to be picked for the next USA team even if he wins some Mikey Mouse 5km.

Does anyone know if Finnoula is going to run?

If she is fit alongside Cullen thats a pretty good scoring duo. The girls behind her all ran similar times at trials so could pack well to make a good team.

Mens team looks really good as well. Could challenge Brits if Fagan and Ledwith produce.

Fionnuala a major doubt, basically has a stress fracture in foot, miracle if she makes it, then again, wouldn't put it past her.

Hollie has both an Irish and British passport...

UKA said the same thing, "never heard of her" and now she runs for Ireland.. More funding there anyway.

Nobody is doubting that Mark Carroll has produced some great runs over teh years and has done some great things for Irish Athletics. He is the best Irish Mens long/mid distance runner every in my opinion. However, he is past it and should not be selected just because of who he is. Where was Carroll in the past 10 years for Euro cross when Ireland could have done with him on the team and helped out big time??? He's only jumping on the team now coz he sees a good chance of the team getting medals with fagan and ledwith there. Maybe Murray or Christie will pop a good one and after that medals are probable. However, I feel that people should have to run the trial unless they have something else preventing them from doing it such as NCAAs or sickness. It doesn't look good for AAI that Carroll is an employee of theirs and walks onto the team easily preventing Joe McAllister a spot - Joe was 30th or there abouts last year and has been on the team at least 4 or 5 times and I think he should have been picked. Richie Yeates and Ashling Baker getting picked is also very dodgy. I honestly hope that Mark, Richie and Ashling produce the goods and do Ireland proud, they are all great athletes in their own right but if they don't there'll be some serious questions asked off Athletics Ireland.

Yeah...Mark hasn't run any good times latley:

13:28.09 Walnut, CA 18/04/2008

You do know month 4 is April......and it's now November and the trials are in December.

He also ran outside 30 minutes in September for 10km

And only 14.39 very recently.

That's considered more recent.

Carroll ran 23:29 less than two weeks ago in Richmond and the 5k was part of a training session.

The criteria for selection is the first 3 at inter counties not the first five.

the first mile of Mark's 5K was 4:57, so that puts the 14:39 in perspective.

It's also not an easy course...maybe worth 20 seconds on a flat course, give or take.

As well as being an employee of Athletics Ireland you also have to remember that John Dooley is one of the selectors and he and Mark are the best of friends who look after each other

He should have done the trial...I know he might feel like he's above that or whatever but all the times and stuff you're talking about are on the road and on the track.fair enough but cross country is different kettle of fish. Mark ran great for Providence in college and was 2nd at NCAAs but thats many moons ago. The only time i remember mark racing cross country for ireland was world cross in dublin and he was in the 40s i think. Not a bad effort but that was in 2002 when he was in much better shape and regularly running around 13.10 for 5k, so he was close to his peak. Now he's in his late 30s and not as competitive as he once was. He should have ran the trial.

mark deffo should have ran the trial but I still don't really have too much of a problem with him running to be honest.

r yeates is probably the most questionable one for me

Good win by Fagan in Manchester, he should be well up in the mix at Europeans. Also solid running by Carroll. Definitely a big improvement on his run at the Great South Run.

Has O' Lionaird definitely pulled out of mens u23 team? No updates on AAI site.

Any word on the 6th team member for the u23 women?

One of the US based girls? Roseanne G? Or next finisher in the trial?

I really think the Irish have a shot at a medal this year.

As you say Fagan looks like he will certainly improve on last year and Ledwith could also be in the top 10.

If you just have Carroll and one other having solid runs and finishing up in the top 15 - 20 I think that should be enough for a medal. It will all depend on how high up the top 10 the first 2 will be. 2 in the top 5 would be nice.

why is cragg not on the team? done running? south african now?