Fionnuala is sportswoman of the month
CROSS COUNTRY star and Kilcoole native Fionnuala Britton was last week named The Irish Times-irish Sports Council sportswoman of the month for December, following her magnificent run to win gold in the senior women's race at the European Cross Country Championships in Slovenia last month.
Britton, pictured right, dominated the field and took the lead midway through the first lap in Slovenia and maintained a relentless pace. She dominated from start to finish, finishing 20 seconds clear of Great Britain's Gemma Steele in second place. This is Ireland's second senior women's gold medal in the history of the championships, with Catherina Mckiernan winning the inaugural senior Women's race in 1994.
'After last year, this is the only medal I wanted,' said Fionnuala on her gold medal win in Slovenia.
Britton has already made the qualification time for the 3,000m steeplechase at the London Olympics, and is now aiming to add qualification for the 5,000m and 10,000m as well. So, fitness permitting she will be representing Ireland this summer.
This is her third time to win a sportswoman of the month award and she will battle it out against the other monthly winners in December 2012 for the overall sportswoman of the year title.
Established in 2004, the aim of the sportswoman of the year awards is to recognise the abilities and achievements of women in Irish sports.
