Diminutive Britton not fazed by the challenge

ATHLETICS: FIONNUALA BRITTON appears the most unlikely candidate to take on the mighty African dominance at the World Cross Country.

Stick thin, pale as a ghost, and seemingly lacking any sort of self-confidence, it's a wonder she can even stand on the start line without being crippled by fear and hopelessness. Behind this fragile appearance, however, is a brilliantly talented and determined athlete who has already proven herself well capable of mixing it with the all-conquering Kenyans and Ethiopians.

Last year, when the event was staged in brutal heat in Mombasa on the coast of Kenya, Britton managed an excellent 14th place in the senior women's race - bettered on the day by only one other European-born runner.

Though still only 23, the expectation now is Britton can go even better on Sunday when the 36th edition of the World Cross Country takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland. Not only is she older, stronger, and presumably wiser, but the softer, muddier course at Edinburgh's Holyrood Park, complete with the steep inclines of the Haggis Knowe, should be far more to her liking.

"Well that's hard to tell," says Britton, who is part of the 21-strong Irish team that departs for Edinburgh later today. "I mean it's very difficult to predict anything in cross-country. You just don't know about the course conditions, the weather, and who exactly is going to be there. So you can't pick a position and say you'd be happy with that.

"And in a way last year I just headed off to Kenya, and no one even knew I was there. I ran well, so some people remember, but if I didn't, everyone would have forgotten. So having run well last year, in a way, makes it harder on me going into this race."

Britton was Ireland's sole representative in Mombasa last year, which made her 14th place all the more impressive. She will at least be joined by five team-mates this Sunday, although with Maria McCambridge opting out, Britton will still be leading that Irish challenge on the Africans - who always make for daunting opposition, no matter what the terrain.

Nine of the 13 runners that finished ahead of her last year were either Kenyan or Ethiopian, and strictly speaking that was 10, as the winner, Lornah Kiplagat, is Kenya-born but now runs for the Netherlands. Although Kiplagat won't be in Edinburgh to defend her title, that African dominance is certain to continue.

Not that Britton is in any way defeatist about it, and for good reason. She doesn't have to look far for encouragement: "Yeah, you just have to believe you can mix it with the Africans, run with them. They are very strong, and you're always going to be aware of that. But you can't line up thinking there are some you can't compete against, because they're too good, or not good enough. You just have to run against everyone that's there.

"And in the women's race there have been some strong performances from the likes of Sonia O'Sullivan, Paula Radcliffe and Benita Johnson, all winning it, so that African dominance in the women's race has been broken. That has to be an inspiration to the rest of us. It helps having the team this time as well, especially before the race, when the nerves really hit. When there's a team there it's not as bad."

Britton's victory at the national championships earlier this month clearly showed her the training was going to plan. "You always feel good when you're winning, and comfortable, like that. Sunday will be different. In one way you do try to watch the other Europeans, but then they could be running badly, go off too fast. So you just have to run your own race and try to stay with the lead group as possible. You still have to go out hard, otherwise you're left behind, and in trouble anyway."

One of Britton's main strengths, in fact, is her tactical awareness. But this isn't surprising given she's equally committed to her studies and is completing an MA at Dublin City University exploring the effects of exercise on the immune system in relation to cystic fibrosis. Smart, and tough, at the same time.