Niamh Allen and Fiona Everard impress at World Cross County in Florida

Cork duo Niamh Allen and Fiona Everard both had excellent outings in Tallahassee on the challenging course, finishing inside the top 25 in the Senior Women’s 10km race at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday afternoon.

In an event that Leeside legend Sonia O'Sullivan lit up previously, Leevale's Allen and Bandon AC ace Everard maintained their recent impressive form at home and abroad.

Allen gained seven places in the closing 4km moving from 28th to 21st in her debut at a global championship just holding off Everard who she just outsprinted in the final 100 metres.

Everard, who was 60th at this event two years ago and 10th at the recent European Cross Country Championships, delivered another run to be proud of crossing the line in 23rd, passing eight athletes in the final 4km.

STANDOUT

Olympian Brian Fay from Raheny Shamrock AC produced a standout performance to finish 16th in the Senior Men’s 10km race.

The 27-year-old Dubliner who was 10th at the recent European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal, executed his race to perfection moving from outside the top 40 in the early stages to a top 20 finishing position.

Fay battled hard down the home straight and was locked stride for stride with 10,000m world champion Jimmy Gressier (France), who just pipped him on the line. 

His performance is the best individually at these championships by an Irish athlete since Fionnuala McCormack (née Britton) finished 14th in the Senior Women’s race in 2013.

Speaking afterwards Fay said: “I’m buzzing…I knew I needed to run a little conservatively in the first 2km, it’s 10km so I hoped to come through the field.

“Wearing the Irish vest and coming to a course like this, a really good cross country course, I live for this...

"I was rubbing shoulders with some very good guys, fourth European today so it bodes well for the future and the rest of the season. 

"After a poor World Championships in Tokyo, I wanted to come here and make a statement. I’m happy to have come here, represented Ireland and ran well.” 

Noah Harris (Parnell AC) was the first Irish athlete in action racing in the U20 Men’s event over 8km. 

The Wicklow man who is a student at the University of Tennessee ran bravely throughout and was positioned inside the top 20 for the majority of the race but faded in the final kilometre finishing 38th.