Joe Sweeney competed well against some top class international opposition before finishing a very respectable 10th place in the high quality IAAF Cross-Country Challenge over the hilly snow covered Hollyrood course in Edinburgh at the weekend.

The tall and determined Dubliner finished ahead of some reputable international runners in the three-way team challenge event, clocking 26:29 behind the impressive winner Mo Farah, the African born British runner, who came away in the second half of the 8.2 K course to win comfortably in 25:41.

Galen Rupp of the USA was second in 25:50, Ayad Lamdassam of Spain third in 25:55, with the reigning European champion Sergey Lebid of the Ukraine back in fourth position in 25:59, with Sweeney involved in a fierce battle for the other front places.

Sweeney helped Europe to the team victory prize by three points over the USA, with Britain third, and he will now be looking towards building on this encouraging performance in the coming months building up to the Woodie’s DIY Inter Clubs Cross Country Championships next month.

TEAM CHALLENGE
Europe 50
USA 53
GBR 69
GBR U23/U20 163