ATHLETICS National Interclub Cross Country Championships: Ian O'Riordan talks to the veteran Clare athlete ahead of his attempt to claim a fifth title
When an athlete like Séamus Power says he's got the armour on and ready for battle, the opposition are inclined to take notice. For more than a decade now Power has been the most consistent and successful cross country runner in Ireland, and despite a series of setbacks over the past six months he's still willing to lead the charge at tomorrow's National Interclub Championships.
In a break from tradition, the event switches from Sunday to Saturday, while returning to a familiar course at the Santry Demesne in Dublin. Power won't be the overwhelming favourite for the senior men's race, but if he does pull off a fifth title there'll be no more popular winner.
At 33, Power also knows he's not getting any quicker, and yet few athletes have ever matched his grit and determination when it comes to cross country running. The Clare athlete first captured this title in Cork in 1997, won again in 2000 and 2001, then won his fourth in Roscommon last year.
"Well, I'm definitely not going into this one in the best shape of my life," he says. "But I've never been afraid of racing, and I'm confident that I can go out there and compete with the best of them.
"I know there'll be lot of good athletes there on Saturday that are running very well, probably better than me, and are all thinking about winning it. But I've got the armour on now, and I'm ready for battle."
Last August, Power won the national half marathon in Castlebar by over four minutes, his time of 63 minutes and 20 seconds suggesting he was on course to run one hell of a marathon. A week later, though, he was crocked, struck down by an old injury between his left hip and lower back.
That prevented him from running for several months, and then, over Christmas, he endured the passing of his father. Two weeks ago he finally got back racing for the Clare senior championships, and ended up lapping everyone in the race except for nine other runners. Chances are if he'd gone for another lap he would have finished second as well.
Deep down Power knows he could still run a good marathon, but he's got a lot of miles on the clock. He won his first Irish senior title on the track in 1991, and his main concern right now is enjoying the twilight of his great career.
"The injury is still a bit of a time bomb in that it could blow up at any moment. And it took an awful lot of rehab. So I really don't know if I can handle the training for the marathon. But I suppose I still have the hunger for cross country."
Win or lose tomorrow, Power will always hold a cross country record that can stand alongside the finest Irish sporting achievements. His nine successive Intercounties titles from 1995 to 2003 never got the recognition it deserved, and although he never ran in the Olympics or broke an Irish record, his reputation alone is more than enough to put the fear into all his opponents over the 12km of running tomorrow.
All of them, however, are seeking a top-three finish and thus one of the automatic places on the Irish team for the World Cross Country in St Etienne, France, on March 19-20th. Dublin's Mark Kenneally and Donegal's Gary Murray are certain to be in the frame, as will emerging junior Mark Christie.
With defending women's champion Catherina McKiernan now retired, that title looks certain to be decided between Dublin's Maria McCambridge and the American-born Jolene Byrne. The junior women start proceedings at 1.0, followed by the junior men (1.30), the senior women (2.15) and the senior men (2.45).
