Mitchell takes Start Line in World University Games 10 000 Metres

Ireland's top long distance track runner Emma Mitchell takes the start line today in the World University Games 10,000 metres in Taipei, where the withdrawal of the favourite from the 19 entry field means the event is now wide open regarding rostrum places.

23 year old QUB student Mitchell has all to race for following the withdrawal of top ranking Daria Maslova of Kyrgyzstan, who is the current Asian champion and recently raced in the London World Champs. This leaves Turkey's Esma Aydemir as the fastest in the field this season with a time of 32 mins 41 seconds, which is only some 10 seconds faster than Emma's NI record of 32 mins 51.78 seconds set last May in Highgate, London.

In that race the Banbridge woman really broke into the big time when finishing 7th and leaving several GB athletes in her wake including Louise Small and Jennifer Nesbitt who are both racing today. However, Highgate merely confirmed Emma's superb form, which had already been reflected in another NI record a week earlier in the 5,000 metres. Her achievements this year have produced 5 personal best times as well as the fastest Irish times over 5,000 and 10,000 metres.

Emma's upbeat coach Eamonn Christie says, "This is only Emma's second 10,000 metres track race but she is well prepared. She has done all the work and is mentally prepared. She has been acclimatising over recent days and training in the evening to link in with race conditions. She is enjoying the experience. The heat in the low 20's is not an issue but the humidity is very high. We have a plan in mind for the race but you never know what might happen in a major Championship".