Seamus Power will be looking to extend one of the most remarkable records of Irish athletics in the first major fixture of the cross country season.
Victory in the Inter-County Championships in Dungarvan this Sunday would give Power a seventh successive title, and just as importantly would gain him selection for the upcoming European Championships in Thun, Switzerland.
The Inter-counties have recently doubled as the trial for the European tests, which this year take place on December 9th. Power's record in the event, plus his strong form of late, will see him start as favourite although the larger target will be next month's race in Switzerland.
Last year the Irish senior men won bronze medals at the Europeans in Malmo, Sweden, one of the least heralded Irish successes of the year and Power sees no reason why they can't repeat that performance. The first five finishers on Sunday will gain team selection, with the remaining place set to go to US-based Keith Kelly.
Yet Power is eager to gain his selection through a victory. "It's a tough challenge alright to win a seventh title, but I think I'm up to it," says the Clare athlete.
"The form is coming good although there are a lot of other guys running well at the moment."
It's still just four months since Power's track season was cut short through injury - forcing him to miss out on the World Championships in Edmonton. Earlier this month, however, he showed that he was back to his best by winning the Crosscup Van Vlaanderen in Gent, Belgium, clocking 28:48 for a course just short of 10km.
Like his opposition though, Power is more concerned about running well in the European Championships. The team bronze last year set him up with a £9,000 grant, and it's also the first major stop-off in a season that ends with the World Championships on home soil next March.
Meanwhile, the Irish athletes found it hard going in yesterday's NCAA American collegiate cross country championships, a race won last year by Louth runner Keith Kelly. Kenya's Boaz Cheboiywo, representing Eastern Michigan, took the individual title at the Furman, North Carolina, course.
There was some Irish joy in that Arkansas, coached by Mayo man John McDonnell, took third in the team race behind Stanford and Colorado. Providence College, coached by Waterford's Ray Treacy and led by Ireland's Roisin McGettigan, could only manage 10th in the women's team race.
