Ciara Mageean to miss European Cross Country Championships

Ciara Mageean will miss this weekend's European Cross Country Championships as she continues to recover from a recent bout of illness.

Mageean secured her place in the Turin race when she finished second to Sarah Healy in the Irish Cross Country Championships in Donegal last month.

However, the 30-year-old has been struggling with a bout of illness in the build-up and she has now taken the decision to sit it out.

Tyrone runner Eilish Flanagan has been drafted into the Ireland team as Mageean's replacement and she will compete alongside her sister Roisin in Turin.

Michelle Finn, Ann Marie McGlynn, Mary Mulhare, and Aoibhe Richardson round out the Irish women's team.

"While disappointed not be joining her team-mates in travelling to Turin this week, Ciara and her team have made the decision to allow Ciara to recover from a recent illness," Athletics Ireland said in a statement.

"It has been a season to remember for the City of Lisburn star and we look forward to seeing Ciara back in the green singlet in 2023."