Binnaz Uslu beat Fionnuala Britton by nine seconds in Legnano

Uslu, from Turkey, won the title in Italy on 10 December, finishing ahead of Ireland's Fionnuala Britton.

It is believed Britton is considering entering the Stormont field.

African 10,000 metres champion Moses Kipsiro, Britain's Gavin Thompson and Kenyan Cathy Mujwa are already confirmed participants.

Kipsiro was pipped on the line by strong-finishing Kenyan Barnabas Kosgei in last year's event.

BRITTON of Dublin City is currently in top form following her silver medal performance in Italy where she was the only person to seriously challenge the dominant Turkish athlete. The recently crowned Irish Inter-Counties Champion competed in last August's European championships in Gothenburg where she recorded a personal best of 9 minutes 49 seconds over the Steeplechase.

However, another top Irish athlete has the credentials to seriously challenge all opposition at Stormont. US based MARY CULLEN (25) was the only European athlete at Stormont last January who showed she could win it with the trio of Ethiopians who eventually took the medal positions. The Providence College athlete has since gone from strength to strength with a series of track personal best's last summer culminating in the European 5000 metres final where she recorded 15 minutes 26 seconds.

In Italy on December 10th, her 14th place was a minute faster than he next best Irish finisher and ahead of British International Liz Yelling.

Already announced for the Stormont meeting are African 10,000 metres champion MOSES KIPSIRO, Britain's GAVIN THOMPSON (who was second team finisher in Italy) and Kenyan CATHY MUJWA- 3 times winner of the Laganside 10K.