If we had an award for performance of the week then I think without question this week it would go to Niamh Devlin for her fantastic marathon debut in Rotterdam with a time of 2:45:22.

Unreported from last weekend was Linda Byrne's 8th place finish in the World Student Games which helped the Irish team to bronze. This caps a really stellar cross country season for Linda.

Maria Mc Cambridge had a solid debut over 10,000m at the European Cup in Turkey coming in 16th. This race had been billed as an opportunity for gaining Olympic qualifying times. Though considering only one athlete on the women's side hit that mark, and such a luminary as Lornah Kiplagat failed to hit the mark, maybe the organisers should rethink both the timing and location of this event in future.

So what about the lads? Well Sunday afternoon in Raheny saw us field 4 full senior men's teams for the National Road Relays. Some pride was restored after the battering we took in the National Cross, but alas our now familar foes, denied us a medal, with the "A" team of Alan McCormack, Robert Corbally, Joe Sweeney and John Eves taking 4th. Clonliffe took the spoils on the day, with Raheny and Rathfarnham making up the minor placings. Our "B"(Kevin O Connor, Neil Cowzer, Craig Longmore, Johnny Hartnett) "C"(Mark Conway, Adrian Gilbane, Evan Scully, Robert Teevan) and "D"(Shane Cowzer, Ian Barrett, Cathal Jenkinson, Mike Hickey) teams finished well in 17th, 19th and 20th positions respectively. In a field rich in high quality, our very young squad showed some good early season form. Lots of miles to be run before this season is out.