ATHLETICS: With fresh optimism after a memorable weekend's National Championships, the Athletics Association of Ireland yesterday named a record 27 athletes for the European Championships in Munich, which run from August 6th-11th.

Across the range of athletes selected - 15 men and 12 women - there are also several genuine medal contenders, led once again by Sonia O'Sullivan. The Olympic silver medallist will be entered in three events, covering the full scope of distance running at 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 metres.

O'Sullivan's focus, however, remains firmly on the 5,000 and 10,000 metre double, a feat she achieved so convincingly in Budapest four years ago.

The 1,500-metre option was given to her by the Irish selectors in case she decides on any late switch ahead of or during the championships. According to the team manager Patsy McGonagle the third place in the 1,500 metres remained vacant and because O'Sullivan had also achieved the qualifying time it was decided to put her name forward.

"You never know what might happen when she gets there," he said, "and we wanted to make sure she had the option to switch events if she ever wanted."

Though it's practically impossible to contest all three finals, O'Sullivan may yet consider taking up the option of the shorter race. The 10,000 metres is being run as a straight final on the opening night and heats of the 5,000 metres are then scheduled two days later. Should O'Sullivan experience any problems there then the 1,500 metres heats a day later on August 9th may be examined.

Either way the 1,500 metres will still include Geraldine Hendricken and Maria Lynch, the only other two Irish athletes who achieved the necessary qualifying standard this year. Though Hendricken missed the Irish championships at the weekend because of a calf injury, she remains confident that her breakthrough season, where she's lowered her personal best by some 11 seconds, remains on track ahead of Munich.

On Friday, Hendricken has been given a place in the 1,500 metres at the Monaco Grand Prix, where she hopes to improve on her recent best of four minutes 5.72 seconds. That is the sort of time that is sure to put her in the mix for a high finish in Munich.

The Irish selectors are also allowing for another seven days for other Irish athletes to add their name to the list. Chief among those is Mark Carroll, who still requires the qualifying time for his chosen event, the 5,000 metres.

Having achieved bronze in Budapest four years ago, Carroll remains determined to get himself to Munich even if his form has failed to ignite this season. After dropping out in both Cork and the Rome Grand Prix, he seemed to have turned the corner in Santry on Sunday when winning a national double at 1,500 and 5,000 metres.

He now races in Heusden, Belgium, on Saturday for a last-chance effort at the 13:32.0 qualifying standard. If he achieves that and remains injury free then he will still fancy his chances in Munich, where the all-conquering Africans will be notable absent.

Others seeking a late qualifying time in Heusden will be Una English and Maria McCambridge, again in the 5,000 metres, who hope to add their names to O'Sullivan (who is also down to run in the Belgium meeting) and Maria McMahon Davenport. But with only three Irish entries allowed it depends now on who runs the faster.

In terms of other finalists and potential medal contenders, Paul McKee (400 metres), Peter Coghlan (110 metres hurdles) and Robert Heffernan (20km walk) will carry the main hopes on the men's side, with Karen Shinkins (400 metres) and Gillian O'Sullivan (20km walk) on the women's side.

Though named in the men's 1,500 metres, a lot of uncertainty remains over the form of James Nolan and he won't travel to Munich unless he produces a satisfying run over the distance in Heusden on Saturday. Breda Dennehy-Willis has already pulled out through injury, while Teresa Duffy will run the marathon for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games instead of competing in Munich.

MEN: 100m - J McAdorey (Ballymena & Antrim); 200m - G Ryan (Nenagh Olympic), B Brizzel (Ballymena and Antrim); 400m - P McKee (Beechmount Harriers), R Daly (Dundrum South-Dublin); 1,500m - J Nolan (UCD AC); 10,000m - S Power (Kilmurray/Ibrickane); 110m H - P Coghlan (Crusaders); 4x100m relay - J McAdorey, P Brizzel, G Ryan, J Carlton (Ballymena and Antrim), M Howard (Fingallians); 4x400m relay - P McKee, R Daly, G Ryan, D McCarthy (Celbridge), A Burke (Dublin City Harriers); Javelin - T McHugh (Dublin City Harriers); 20km walk - R Heffernan (Togher AC), J Costin (West Waterford); 50km walk - J Costin.

WOMEN: 200m - C Sheehy (Dublin City Harriers), S Reilly (Birchfield Harriers); 400m - K Shinkins (Dublin City Harriers); 1,500m - S O'Sullivan (Ballymore/Cobh), G Hendricken (St Laurence O'Toole), M Lynch (Dundrum South-Dublin); 5,000m - S O'Sullivan, M McMahon-Davenport (Marian AC); 10,000m -S O'Sullivan, M McMahon-Davenport, A Keenan-Buckley (NorthLaois AC); 100m H - D O'Rourke (UCD AC); Hammer - E O'Keeffe (Kilkenny City Harriers), 20km walk - G O'Sullivan (Farranfore Maine Valley AC), O Loughnane (Loughrea AC).

Team Manager: P McGonagle; Assistant manager: M Quinlan; Coaches: P Fay, P McGratten, M Kyle, M Lane.