McGlynn and Greene compete at European Cross Country in Turkey

There was no Turkish delight for Donegal athletes Ann-Marie McGlynn and Amy Greene at the European Cross Country Championships.

In Antalya, Turkey, Letterkenny AC’s McGlynn was 62nd in the senior women’s race with Finn Valley AC’s Greene 54th in the U23 women’s race with the Ireland senior team 10th and the U23 team fifth.

McGlynn was previously a team bronze medal winner with Ireland in 2014 in Bulgaria and 2022 in Italy, but the girls in green weren’t in contention this time.

Dokuma Park in Antalya, a Turkish city resting on the banks of the Mediterranean, proved a real rhythm-sapping course for participants at the 30th edition of these Championships.

The old textile factory complex, erected in the 1950s, is a real pointer to Turkey’s past, but Ireland were unable to conjure up a medal contest this time.

McGlynn’s fellow LAC woman Teresa McDaid was with the Irish team as operations manager.

Over a course just shy of 8km, Niamh Allen of Leevale AC in Cork - who McGlynn defeated at the recent national championships - was Ireland’s lead runner in 11th spot.

Finn Valley AC’s Flanagan twins, Roisin and Eilish - previously medal winners at the European Cross - were absent having only recently returned to training following injury.

McGlynn roared to an excellent win at the National Senior Cross Country Championships last month at Irvinestown having also taken victory in the National Marathon, held as part of the Dublin Marathon in October. 

Nadia Battocletti from Italy took victory in the women’s race from Konstanze Klosterhalfen of Germany and Turkey’s Yasemin Can with Italy winning the team gold.

Cheryl Nolan was the second Irish athlete to finish, coming through in 57th, while Mary Mulhare was 66th, Fiona Everard 73rd and Danielle Donegan 74th.

In the women’s U23 race, Greene crossed the line in 54th with Ireland coming fifth in the team standings.

Phoebe Anderson of Great Britain took the U23 gold, just ahead of Maria Forero from Spain and Finland’s Ilona Mononen.

Tullamore Harrisers’ Laura Mooney was seventh and Emma McEvoy from Dundrum South Dublin finished 13th as Ireland placed fifth.

Last year, Greene helped the Irish U20s to fifth when finishing 29th on her international debut at Laeken Park in Brussels. 

Since then, Greene won the National Intermediate title and was the U23 silver medallist recently in Irvinestown to book her place on the plane.

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Greene only turned 20 earlier this year and has time on her hands at this grade.