Nakita Burke's 25th place finish takes LAC to ninth spot in Portugal

Nakita Burke finished 25th at the European Champions Club Cup Cross Country as Letterkenny AC’s senior woman took a ninth-place finish in the team event.

Burke, third in last weekend’s Raheny 5 Mile, followed on from a fine 2021 to take 25th in 24:02.

With Noeleen Scanlan in 31st and Natasha Adams 42nd, LAC placed ninth in the team standings.

LAC’s lead runner for this event, Ann-Marie McGlynn - who went within touching distance of qualifying for the Olympic Games in Tokyo - was absent because of a recently-sustained injury.

Finn Valley AC junior women come sixth in Europe

Sarah Bradley led the way in 12th as Finn Valley finish sixth at the European Champion Clubs Cup Cross Country

LAC were hit, too, with Christine Russell unable to take to the line. Injury also prevented her involvement.

Their hypothetical inclusions would perhaps have hoisted the placings of those in the black and amber.

In December, LAC won their first ever women’s senior cross country title in Dublin. That victory secured the place on the plane to Portugal.

Spaniard Lakina Amebaw was the individual winner of the senior race in 22:13. Amebaw guided her team, Playas Castello, to the team golds. Istanbul BBSK were second with Bilbao AT in third.