Mary Cullen withdrawn from Euro 3000m Heats on Medical Grounds

Sligo's Mary Cullen has been withdrawn from this morning heats of the women's 3000m at the European Indoor Athletics Championships on medical grounds.

Team Manager Patsy McGonagle said the Irish athlete had come down with a stomach complaint overnight and the Team doctor felt it would ill-advised under the circumstances for the 28 year in-form Irish athlete to compete in the 1st round of the 3000m later this morning.

Cullen has shown good form this season over 3000m. Her season's best time of 8:53:45 would have stood her in good stead this morning and the Sligo woman would have had ambitions to qualify for tomorrow's final and compete with best of Europe tomorrow in the final of the 3000m. Cullen has also shown good speed over the shorter distances too this season and she took the Irish 1500m title two weeks ago.

Cullen's inability to compete today will be a major disappointment as she had come back well from breaking her collarbone in a bike accident last November and had real hopes of claiming another medal at these Championships,to add to the bronze she won in Turin in 2009.

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