HER debut at the European Athletics Championships didn’t go as planned, but Fiona Everard can still review the season to date with huge positivity and optimism.

The Enniskeane athlete, a two-time national senior cross-country champion, made her track debut at a major championships when she ran in the women’s 10,000m final in Birmingham.

While disappointed with finishing 20th, in a time of 33:08.60, the Bandon AC athlete has made big strides this year.

Training with the National Endurance Group, under the guidance of Mark Kenneally, Everard has felt the benefits.

‘It’s been brilliant. Mark has been my coach for a relatively short space of time, but it’s mad how much he’s done for me in that time. He’s just given me so much more belief in myself,’ Everard says.

‘I think probably before this year I’d have been happy with that performance, just being here, but he’s really changed my mindset. I’ve come into today thinking that I had a right to be competitive in that field and be up there.

‘So, yeah, he’s helped me a lot, and in the training and everything, I think it’s going well. Apart from today, I seem to be getting good benefits from it.’

Reflecting on the 10,000m final, Everard feels her long season has caught up with her. She saw some signs in recent weeks, and the final in Birmingham was the latest evidence.

‘Definitely disappointed,’ she says, ‘I was hoping for a lot better, but I’m not really sure.

‘It’s been a long season, and I felt over the last few weeks that efforts in training were definitely just taking more out of me, and it was taking me longer to recover from them.

‘I don’t know if it’s just a sign that it’s been a long season and maybe just a few weeks too long, but I was still hoping that I could have pulled something a bit better together.

‘I’m happy that I gave it a go, and it was my first time out here, so I have loved the experience. Even though I’d have liked to have given a better show of myself, it’s still been such a cool experience, so, yeah, I’m definitely glad of it.’

Juggling cross-country with track and road running, Everard has been in action all year, right back to January when she raced at the World Cross Country Championships in Florida. After that, her target was securing qualification for the Europeans, which she achieved.

After a short break, Everard’s focus will switch back to cross-country and the defence of her Irish crown.

‘Hopefully this experience will still stand to me for the cross and maybe next year for track as well.’