McKiernan Factfile

Age: 28

Born: Cornafean Co Cavan.

1993: Fails to finish 10,000m in World Championships because of injury.

1994: Drops out of 10,000m in 1994 European Championships.

1996: Finishes 11th in Atlanta Olympics over 5,000m and 10,000m despite setting personal bests in both events.

Runner-up four years in succession in World Cross-Country Championships from 1992-95, although she won the European title in 1994.

Turned to marathon running and a half-marathon time of 69 minutes gave an indication of her potential at the full distance.

1997: Made marathon debut in September in Berlin and stormed to victory in an Irish record of 2 hrs 23 mins 44 secs, the fastest by a women debutant at the distance and ninth quickest on the world all-time list.

1998: Wins the Lisbon half-marathon in March in 1:07:50, beating Liz McColgan by two minutes. Wins London Marathon ahead of 1996 winner Liz McColgan and defending champion Joyce Chepchumba of Kenya in a time of 2:26:26.