Clohisey and Christie clash for 2017 AXA Raheny 5

Rivalries will be renewed when Mick Clohisey defends his AXA Raheny 5 title on Sunday against Mullingar Harriers Mark Christie.

Clohisey and Christie last clashed at the National Senior Cross Country Championship in November with Christie getting the better of the Raheny man to win gold.

Both earned selection for the Irish team which competed at the European Cross Country Championship in Chia last month with Clohisey finishing some 17 places ahead of Christie.

Christie returns to Raheny looking for his third victory at the AXA Raheny 5 having won in 2012 and 2014, while Clohisey was last year’s winner.

The Rio 2016 Olympian won a wet 2016 AXA Raheny 5 in 24 minutes and five seconds, the course having being changed between miles three and four.

AXA Raheny 5 race organisers have decided to continue with the change of course for this year’s event as the new configuration of the Clontarf Road is deemed not fit for purpose.

Clohisey and Christie will face a challenge from West Wateford’s David McCarthy and Rathfarnham’s WSAF Sean Hehir in what will be a record breaking entry in the AXA Raheny 5.

All Ireland Cross Country champions Raheny Shamrock finalise their preperations for next week’s European Club Cup Cross Country on home turf.

Conor Dooney and Mark Kirwan both join Clohisey on the start line with Raheny Shamrock favourite to win the team title.

The Women’s race is heating up with Lizzie Lee not defending her title, the race is wide open and could see Raheny Shamrock’s super masters athlete Annette Kealy winning out.

All records are set to be broken in Raheny on Sunday. Entries are still open online until 10pm tonight.

You can also enter in the AXA Insurance Office, 4 Main Street, Raheny between 10am to 4pm.

Entries for the four juvenile races are also been taken in the AXA Insurance office Raheny today at €5 per entry.

Entries to the Juvenile race open on Sunday from 12.30am in the CARA Hall.

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