One of the strongest ever Clonliffe men`s teams assembled will take up the challenge at next weekend`s European Clubs Cross Country Championships. The team includes Olympians, World Championships athletes and National Champions and will look to emulate the best ever team performance by a Clonliffe team at these championships of 5th place in 1983 and a mere 2 points off bronze ( 1983 team: J. Kiernan 7th, N. Harvey 8th, J. Finnegan 19th and D. Noonan 32nd).
The 2014 team for Albufeira is: Alistair Cragg, Mark Kenneally, Sergiu Ciobanu, Jayme Rossister, Gary O`Hanlon and Colm Rooney.
Alistair Cragg: 3 time Olympian over 5,000m and a finalist in 2004 and 2008, Irish record holder over 5,000m ,10,000m and half marathon, European Indoor 3,000m gold medallist 2005, national champion 1500m 2004, 5,000m 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Mark Kenneally: 2012 London Olympic Games (marathon), 8th European Cross Country (Santry) 2009, 6th European Clubs Cross Country Bilbao 2010, National 10,000m champion 2011 and 2013, National cross country champion 2010.
Sergiu Ciobanu: 2013 World Championships Marathon, National marathon champion 2009 and 2010, National Cross Country Champion 2013. European clubs 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013.
Jayme Rossister: National Intermediate Cross Country Champion 2012, the only athlete to represent Clonliffe in the European cross country clubs at both junior (Bilbao 2010) and senior (2014) level.
Gary O`Hanlon: winner of national team cross country on multiple occasions, seasoned campaigner for Clonliffe at European clubs, Marathon runner extraordinaire (winner in 2013 of Limerick, Kildare, Longford, Waterford and Clonakilty Marathons) and prolific road racer.
Colm Rooney: National 1500m champion 2008, 1500m pb 3.43.13, 800m pb 1.50.8, national cross country team winner, 17th European clubs 2007, 29th 2008.
Reserves: John Heneghan and Brian MacMahon
The team travels to Portugal on Friday afternoon with the race on Sunday February 2nd. The very best of luck. Nil desperandum.