Thornton named in Irish team for European Cross Country finals

STEPHEN GLENNON

GALWAY City Harriers’ Gary Thornton has been named in the Ireland senior team to take part in the European Cross Country Championships in Albuferia, Portugal this Sunday.

The International Selectors of Athletics Ireland finalised the six Irish teams and individuals for the event last week, with Thornton expressing his delight at being selected.

“Yeah, I am happy,” said the Ardilaun Road native. “I couldn’t run in the intercounty cross country up in Derry and that was disappointing. 

Lads who went up on the Saturday had to turn back, so I decided to get flights to Dublin and try to get to Derry from there. But, unfortunately, when I got to Dublin, I couldn’t get to Derry, and that was a bit annoying. It was the start of the cold snap.”

Having missed out on the Derry meet, Thornton was afraid this would impinge on his selection, but having impressed on both track and road this year, it would have been difficult for the selectors to leave the 10,000 metres track champion at home.

“I was delighted to get called up. I had been pre-selected, but when I didn’t make the cross country championships, I wasn’t expecting it. I would rather have turned up and did myself proud but the weather just changed that weekend and a lot of athletes got caught.”

That said, Thornton has been in top form of late. Aside from claiming the 10km national track championship in Santry in July for the second time in three years, Thornton also impressed when finishing 14th in a top class field at the Great North Run in Newcastle.

This event was won by Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentiinel.