In-form McGlynn leads the charge for victory in classy Seeley 10k

ANNE Marie McGlynn is firm favourite to take her second Joe Seeley 10k title in tomorrow’s high quality Podium 4Sport event at Ormeau Park, which has over 1,000 entries (start 2.30pm).

The race, now in its 37th year, will be without last year’s winner Emma Mitchell plus Laura Graham, both currently recovering from injury. However, had these two raced they would have been seriously tested by Strabane-based McGlynn — from Letterkenny — who has been enjoying one of her best seasons ever.

A few days ago the 38-year-old finished only a few metres behind middle distance star Ciara Mageean to take silver in the Irish Senior Cross Country, which doubled as the trial for next week’s Euro Cross Country in Tilburg.

McGlynn’s opposition includes European Masters track champion Kelly Neely of Lisburn AC — who was third a year ago — and Belfast Half Marathon champion Geri Short of Beechmount.

QUB’s Sinead Sweeney, who won the Antrim Cross Country recently, should also be to the fore along with Jenny Hamilton of host club Willowfield.

In the men’s event, North Belfast’s Mark McKinstry is also enjoying a purple patch topped by his recent overwhelming victory in the British Masters Cross Country. The 35-year-old then followed this up last week in Dublin when first northern finisher in the Irish Senior.

Other contenders include Springwell’s Neil Johnston, third a year ago, North Belfast’s Andrew Annett who was sixth, NI 800m champion Conall Kirk of Annadale, twice previous champion Paddy Hamilton and North Down’s Craig McMeechan.