CATHERINA McKIERNAN yesterday conceded defeat in an increasingly futile struggle to shake off an Injury in time for the European cross country championship in Charleroi, Belgium, on December 15th.
McKiernan, winner of the inaugural European title two years ago, notified BLE officials that she will not be available for selection when they meet to name their squad next week.
Instead, she plans to travel to Lilleshall next Monday for specialist treatment of an Achilles tendon injury she sustained at the start of the season and aggravated in training three weeks ago.
"It's a huge disappointment to have to miss out on the European race but at this point, patience is the name of the game for me," she said.
"I wasn't patient enough when I first got the injury and it has added another month on to the time scale. Now I must make certain that when I eventually get back running, I am hilly fit.
"Realistically, it's going to be into the New Year before that happens and it means that my season, or what's left of it, will now be geared to the world championship in March."
McKiernan, the most consistent woman in cross country competition over the last six years, has already withdrawn from a number of international races and is unlikely to figure in the Grand Prix prize fund.
Her presence devalues the national inter counties championship at Killenaule on Sunday, it will lend an extra competitive element to the event which she has dominated over the years.
Additional spice is given to the race by virtue of the fact that Antrim, traditionally the strongest of the counties affiliated to the Northern Ireland Federation, will be taking part for the first time.
Theresa Duffy, a formidable contender when representing her club, Beechmount, in the national championships in recent years, leads an Antrim team which will also include the talented Anne Terek and Ursula McGloin.
The effect will be to heighten the appeal of a team contest which has been monopolised by Dublin, Cork and more recently, Donegal. Now with Jill Bruce and Kathy McCandless in their squad, Donegal are preparing to meet the challenge with a renewed sense of purpose.
The first two across the finishing line in Killenaule are assured of automatic selection in the European squad. If Duffy is the pre race favourite, there will be strong support also for the claims of Maureen Harrington and Carlow's Geraldine Hendricken.
Among those likely to challenge for the men's championship are Niall Bruton (Dublin) and Ken Nason (Cork), who are both, using the cross country season as part of their preparations for the big track events next summer.
Bruton, back in Ireland after graduating from the University of Arkansas, is being, coached by Eamonn Coghlan, and it showed when he finished a good second to Noel Berkeley in the recent Dublin championship.
Shane Healy, fourth in the same race, also has genuine medal claims on Sunday and with two other proven campaigners, Noel Cullen and Peter Matthews in support, the Metropolitans will mount a strong defence of the title.
Seamus Power of Clare will be enthusiastic about his prospects of a second consecutive success in the individual event after a good run in Wales earlier in the season and others with obvious chances are David and John Burke (Westmeath) and the Kerry captain, Kieran Lambe.
