Malcolm has been Head of Performance and Coaching at Athletics Australia since January 2019. As Head Coach Malcolm will work alongside athletes and coaches to support performances across all disciplines and event groups, as well as lead the Great Britain & Northern Ireland senior teams at major championships.

Following an impressive competitive career from which he retired in 2014, Malcolm had previously been British Athletics technical lead for sprint relays, a position he held from March 2015 to December 2019. The highlight of that was the double sprint relay medals won by the 4x100m teams at the home World Championships London 2017. The women’s team won silver, whilst the men’s 4x100m team won a global gold sprint relay medal for the first time since the Athens Olympics in 2004.

This achievement saw Malcolm named jointly Coach of the Year at the 2017 BBC Sports Personality awards, alongside Stephen Maguire and Benke Blomkvist. As a coach to individual athletes he has also enjoyed success in the para athletics programme, most notably in his role as a Performance Coach at Disability Sport Wales for just under three years. He coached Jordan Howe to T35 100m silver and Rhys Jones to a personal best – finishing fourth in the T37 100m – at the World Para Athletics Championships London 2017.

Top flight experience

Before his 2014 retirement Malcolm had represented Great Britain & Northern Ireland to the highest level. His World junior sprint double gold in 1998 heralded his credentials to the sport, going on to compete in four Olympic Games. With European Indoor gold and silver, World Indoor and European Championship silver, Commonwealth silver and bronze, as well as two World bronze medals as part of the GB & NI 4x100m relay team, his competitive career has certainly helped underpin his success in the coaching ranks.

Christian Malcolm said: “Words can’t describe how excited I am to have the opportunity to take this role on and be part of a new start for British Athletics. As an athlete I knew I wanted to give back to the sport when I finished competing.

“In all my coaching and advisory roles so far, I have wanted to help athletes avoid the errors I made and support them and their coaches to get the best out of themselves. I’ve worked with some world class coaches throughout my career whilst competing, as part of the GB relay set up and whilst at Athletics Australia. They’ve all helped me to grow in various ways, but I know my first coach Jock Anderson would have been the most pleased to see me take this role and use all that he taught me about helping athletes prepare.

Cultural shift

Under the new leadership of CEO Joanna Coates British Athletics has made a commitment to a more open culture. The appointment of Malcolm and the recent appointment of Sara Symington as Performance Director is a strong symbol of this intention. Coates said;

“I’m very excited to be re-joining British Athletics at this time. Jo (Coates) and Sara (Symington) have a great outlook as to what the sport can achieve from playground to podium. There is a new energy and drive and I’m looking forward to helping athletes and coaches towards success in Tokyo, Paris and beyond.”

“I am really pleased to appoint Christian to this role. His credentials are numerous but most impressive was the energy and vision he had for the Head Coach role during the recruitment process.

“The panel were incredibly impressed by both his technical knowledge and approach to high performance – putting the athlete first, championing welfare and also a change in culture that will really enhance the World Class programme.

“Alongside Sara, Christian will bring a fresh new approach to the performance team as we head towards Tokyo and future Olympic cycles.”

Impact on endurance?

With questions still remaining surrounding the close relationship between British Athletics and the Nike Oregon Project it will come as no surprise that the new appointments do not come from an endurance background. The British Athletics Championships are set to take place this coming weekend with endurance fields missing some of the top ranked athletes.

Whether there will be an overall endurance lead to replace the role previously undertaken by Dr Barry Fudge or whether there will be event leads or some other new endurance structure remains unclear. However many in the endurance community have been clear on the need for a shift in culture at British Athletics and will no doubt hope that the new energy and drive Joanna Coates mentions also extends to the endurance programme.

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UK Athletics (UKA) has today announced the commissioning of an Independent Review (Independent Review) following Alberto Salazar’s 4-year ban from the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for violations of safe practices through his managing and running coaching programmes at the Nike Oregon Project (NOP).

In a press release UKA state they acknowledge the seriousness of the decision by USADA. It has now commissioned the Independent Review to review the processes under which the issues concerning the NOP were investigated in 2015 and 2017 and the subsequent related decisions made by the UKA Board at those respective times. The Independent Review will also set out any recommendations to assist UKA ensure its future governance and assurance framework is robust.

The Independent Review will be undertaken by John Mehrzad, the recognised leading sports law barrister with significant experience of conducting independent reviews in sport. He was the only legal member of the independent review panel that looked into the climate and culture of the world-class programme in British Cycling. He then chaired the independent review concerning governance issues within the British Equestrian Federation. He has also written and presented extensively on good practice for independent reviews and investigations within a sporting context.

The Independent Review will address the following questions:

UKA commissioned a review of the issues raised by the BBC Panorama programme ‘Catch me if you can’, broadcast in June 2015:
1) Were the terms of reference for that review reasonable given the nature of the allegations?

2) Were that review’s findings and conclusions presented in a reasonable way to enable the UKA Board to make informed decisions?

3) Were the subsequent decisions and recommendations made by the UKA Board reasonable with regard to the evidence available at the time?

Did the UKA Board give reasonable consideration to the ‘Fancy Bears’ leaking of the draft USADA report in 2017? Were the subsequent actions of the UKA Board reasonable with regard to the evidence available at the time?
Did UKA seek advice from UK Sport, UKAD and USADA in relation to the above issues in 2015 and 2017 respectively and, if so, did any of those bodies provide any formal response or guidance to the UKA in either 2015 or 2017?
Were the recommendations in the 2015 review reasonably actioned, tracked and documented by UKA in a manner which minimised future risk?
What lessons can be learnt from the above matters that can assist with the future governance of UKA?

UKA will aim to publish the findings from the Review in or around Spring 2020 and agrees to implement any recommendations made by that Review, to ensure its future governance and assurance framework is robust.

Chair of UK Athletics Performance Oversight Committee and of the 2015 NOP review, Sarah Rowell said:

“There has been much written about what the Oregon Project review looked into, found or concluded in 2015, and I therefore welcome this review as an opportunity to establish the full facts and for those facts to be published for all to see.”

UK Athletics Chair Chris Clark said:

“The UKA Board recognises the seriousness of the USADA decision released at the start of October. It has unanimously agreed that an independent review should now be carried out with the aim that findings and recommendations are published in or around Spring 2020.

“Our staff, athletes and coaches show immense dedication to this sport and are proud to be associated with British Athletics. We need to ensure we have a clear way forward that gives us confidence in the integrity of our coaching efforts. If there are lessons to be learnt, we plan to implement any recommendations into a future focused, transparent and accountable way of working.”

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The a first wave of endurance athletes was announced back in May and there were few surprises in the press release yesterday.

Wightman makes the cut

One of the most difficult calls for selectors will have been in the men’s 1500m. Despite leading the UK rankings in 2019 Charlie Da’Vall Grice misses out on selection after finishing 4th at the British Championships.

Instead the top three from the championships are selected with Neil Gourley, Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman make up the men’s 1500m team and despite moving to 4th on the UK all time list Grice misses out.

High hopes for Muir

Laura Muir won individual European gold last summer and earns selection for another World Championships and will be one of GBs leading medal hopes in the endruance events. Currently number one in the World on the IAAF rankings Muir has had a quite summer after winning the 1500 at the Anniversary Games in July.

Jemma Reekie and Sarah McDonald are also selected having finished 1st and 2nd at the British Champs both having previously bagged the qualification time. 3rd ranked Laura Weightman is selected in the 5000m.

Photo: Getty Images

800m selections in line with rankings

In total six women and eight men had achieved the standard in the 800m and the selections made are in line wit the 2019 rankings. With Laura Muir running the 1500m Shelayna Oskan-Clarke is selected as the winner of the British Championships in August. After the disappointment of missing out on Commonwealth Games selection last year Alex Bell will be a popular selection having finished third at the British Championships and third ranked in 2019.

The top three men in the 2019 rankings achieve selection led by Jamie Webb. Despite finishing 1st and 2nd at the British Championships neither Spencer Thomas nor Guy Learmonth had achieved the standard so Kyle Langford and Elliot Giles.

Griffiths injured as Hawkins and Purdue lead marathon challenge

In a post on his Twitter account Dewi Griffiths announced his decision to pull out of the team due to injury. As one of only three British men to have run inside the qualifying standard of 2:13 British distance fans will have been excited to see Griffiths and Hawkins leading the charge in Doha. We wish Dewi all the best for a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him in Olympic year!

The last few months haven’t been easy both physically and mentally. Unfortunately I’ve had to accept it wasn’t meant to be and I will not be running for in the world championships next month. I still believe my best race is still yet to be run, but first I have to get healthy. https://t.co/J3euy1zJMB

— Dewi Griffiths (@dewigriff10k) September 3, 2019

After his fantastic 2:08:14 at London this year Callum Hawkins moved to 3rd on the UK all time list over the marathon distance. Hawkins should be considered a serious medal contender. He equalled the best performance by a British man at a World Championship marathon when 4th in London 2017 and led the Commonwealth Games marathon until his collapse in the closing stages. 

Charlotte Purdue was the leading British female at the 2017 World Championship marathon when she finished 13th. Since then she has taken her running on to a different level with a huge PB of 2:25:38 at London also taking her to 3rd on the UK all time rankings. Purdue should be considered as a potential medallist, in 2017 Amy Cragg took home a bronze medal with a time of 2:27:18.

Having finished London bang on the qualifying mark of 2:31:00 Tish Jones runs in her first major championships as the final marathon selection.

Callum Hawkins GBR crosses the finish line to place tenth and earn himself a PB. The Virgin Money London Marathon, 28 April 2019. Photo: Ian Walton for Virgin Money London Marathon

In form Twell in the 10000m

Steph Twell leads the UK 10000m rankings and is selected along with Eilish McColgan. Twell has a had an excellent year having taken the decision to self coach she has achieved PBs at 10000m and 10km and also set a half marathon best of 71:33 to finish 2nd at the Big Half.

Eilish McColgan finished 10th in the 5000m at London 2017 but in Doha the versatile athlete will mount her challenge over 10000m. Having set a PB of 31:16.76 at Parliament hill McColgan is now ranking in the UK all time top 10 over 1500m, 3000m, 5000m and 10000m.

No men achieved the standard of 27:40.00 but the two men who have run inside 28 minutes, Marc Scott and Ben Connor are both selected in the 5000m.

Full teams for the 5000m

A full complement of six athletes are selected in the 5000m. The men’s selections are in line with the UK rankings with Andrew Butchart leading the challenge after his 13:06.21 at the Anniversary Games. British 10000m Champion Ben Connor is selected in the 5000m after hitting the qualifying mark with 13:19.47 at the Anniversary Games. Marc Scott will look to build upon his 5th place in the European Championships last year with another strong major championship performance.

As one and two in the UK rankings and Eilish McColgan and Laura Weightman join Jessica Judd in the team. With PBs at 1500m, 300om, 5000m and 10km Weightman is in fabulous form this year. Eilish McColgan’s 14:47.94 at the IAAF World Challenge saw her move to 3rd on the UK all time list and both will hope to push the likes of Obiri, Hassan and Klosterhalfen at the championships. Judd Judd is selected after winning the World University Games in July.

All three women who have run the steeplechase qualifying standard have been selected with Rosie Clarke the only athlete currently inside the world top 30. Elizabeth Bird and Aimee Pratt will both be competing at their first senior major championship. Zac Seddon was 5th in last year’s European Championships and also competed at the 2017 World Championships and will be hoping to make the final this year.

Tough decisions

British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black said: “It gives me great pleasure to name the 72 athletes selected to compete for Great Britain & Northern Ireland at the IAAF World Championships in Doha, starting later this month. Given the standard of performances from British athletes this season, and the strength in depth we possess in several events, finalising the team was far from easy and there were some tough decisions to make.
“In the 72 athletes, I truly believe we have selected the strongest team possible to compete for medals on the global stage. The team is full of world-class athletes who over the past two years since we were hosts in London have proven that they belong on the global stage.

“It is great to see so many athletes return having competed in London and also see so many make the step up to the world level for the first time. We have selected more women than men once again for a major championships and special mention needs to go to Martyn Rooney, who is competing at his eighth World Championships, a truly remarkable feat for a great athlete.

“The Championships are going to be held in a challenging climate at the end of what has been a long season already but what pleases me the most is how our athletes and their coaches have approached the challenge and are ensuring that they peak when it matters most. The next three and a half weeks are key in preparing for the Championships and I look forward to watching our athletes flourish in Doha.”

The endurance athletes selected in the British team for the IAAF World Championships Doha 2019

MEN:

800m
Elliot Giles (Birchfield Harriers; Jon Bigg)
Kyle Langford (Shaftesbury Barnet; Jon Bigg)
Jamie Webb (Liverpool Harriers; Adrian Webb)

1500m
Neil Gourley (Giffnock North; Mark Rowland)
Josh Kerr (Edinburgh; Danny Mackey)
Jake Wightman (Edinburgh; Geoff Wightman)

5000m
Andrew Butchart (Central; self coached)
Ben Connor (Derby; Steve Vernon)
Marc Scott (Richmond & Zetland; Jerry Schumacher)

3000m Steeplechase
Zak Seddon (Bracknell; Jeff Seddon)

Marathon
Callum Hawkins (Kilbarchan; Robert Hawkins)

20km Race Walk
Tom Bosworth (Tonbridge; Andi Drake)
Callum Wilkinson (Enfield & Haringey; Andi Drake)

50km Race Walk
Cameron Corbishley (Medway & Maidstone; Andi Drake)
Dominic King (Colchester Harriers; George Nibre)

WOMEN:

800m
Alexandra Bell (Pudsey & Bramley; Andrew Henderson)
Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow; Jon Bigg)
Lynsey Sharp (Edinburgh; David Harmer)

1500m
Sarah McDonald (Birchfield Harriers; David Harmer)
Laura Muir (Dundee Hawkhill; Andy Young)
Jemma Reekie (Kilbarchan; Andy Young)

5000m
Jessica Judd (Blackburn; Mick Judd)
Eilish McColgan (Dundee Hawkhill; Liz Nuttall)
Laura Weightman (Morpeth; Steve Cram)

10,000m
Eilish McColgan (Dundee Hawkhill; Liz Nuttall)
Steph Twell (Aldershot Farnham & District; self coached)

3000m Steeplechase
Elizabeth Bird (Shaftesbury Barnet; George Harrison)
Rosie Clarke (Epsom & Ewell; David Harmer)
Aimee Pratt (Sale Harriers Manchester; Vicente Modahl)

Marathon
Tish Jones (Belgrave Harriers; Nick Anderson)
Charlotte Purdue (Aldershot Farnham & District; Nic Bideau)

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According to a short statement released on the UK Athletics website Traynor has been suspended because of an anti-doping rule violation contrary to IAAF Anti-Doping Rule Article 2.1 (“Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an Athlete’s Sample”).

The athlete moved quickly to respond releasing his own statement via Twitter in which he outlines the offence related to the use of recreational drugs as opposed to an attempt to enhance performance.

Fast Running editor Robbie Britton said “whilst it is extremely disappointing to see that Luke has retured a positive test, it is refreshing to see his honest statement taking responsibility for his actions. He’s been caught using a banned substance so there is very little sympathy for the suspension, but appreciation for the honesty.

We’ve always been a fan of Traynor’s racing at Fast Running and although we support UKAD’s decision to suspend the athlete for the ADRV, it would be good to see his honesty, at this stage, taken into account. We hope that Luke is getting the support he needs during this difficult time as well.”

Traynor, who competed at the World Cross Country Championships this year, had a fantastic 2018. The 26 year old Scottish athlete set a half marathon best of 61:55, competed for GB at the World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia and ran 28:31 to set a big 10km PB.

He now will be given the opportunity to respond including the right to a full hearing.

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British Athletics has named a strong full team of 24 athletes for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark on Saturday, March 30.

Winner of the trials Jenny Nesbitt, who earns her first British vest on the cross country circuit since 2016, is joined by 2018 European Cross senior team silver medallists Jess Piasecki and Kate Avery in the senior women’s team.

Third at the trials, Mhairi MacLennan, along with English National champion Emily Hosker-Thornhill and under-20 team gold medallist from Tilburg, Amelia Quirk complete the team.

Ross Millington who took senior team silver in December’s Euro Cross, will be flanked by under-23 team silver medallists from Tilburg, Oliver Fox, Mahamed Mahamed and Patrick Dever, the latter achieving an individual fifth-place finish in Tilburg.

Adam Hickey earns a first British vest since the 2015 Euro Cross in Hyères, France, following his trial win at Prestwold Hall, with Luke Traynor completing the team.

Photo: JHM Sport

Under-20 team gold medallist from Tilburg, Inter Counties and 2018/19 Cross Challenge champion Grace Brock spearheads the junior women’s selections, along with under-17 English National Championships winner, Olivia Mason.

Charlotte Alexander earns another British vest following on from her run in the Great Stirling XCountry, while Becky Briggs, Eloise Walker and Amelia Samuels all earn their first British vests.

Inter-Counties champion Matt Willis leads the junior men’s selections, alongside new English under-20 cross champion Rory Leonard, and under-20 European Mountain Running Championship team gold medallist from 2018, Euan Brennan.

Under-20 Cross Challenge champion Zakariya Mahamed achieves his first British vest, as do Benjamin West and Josh Cowperthwaite.

“I’m really excited that we are able to have selected a full team for the World Cross Country Championships that we feel can challenge some of the world’s best Cross Country runners on a tough course in Aarhus,” said Team leader Rob Denmark.

“We have opted to select full teams in the senior races as we feel it will enhance our bid for a top six team finish and given the nature of the course, will give Great Britain & Northern Ireland the best possible chance of doing so.

“Additionally, we feel that the course in Aarhus will provide another perfect development opportunity for our Under-20 athletes moving into the summer track season and a fundamental development area as they progress through the age groups.”

Meanwhile, Ireland also named its team on Tuesday (March 12) and it can be found here.

British team for the World Cross Country Championships

Senior Men: Patrick Dever, Oliver Fox, Adam Hickey, Mahamed Mahamed, Ross Millington and Luke Traynor.

Senior Women: Kate Avery, Emily Hosker-Thornhill, Mhairi MacLennan, Jenny Nesbitt, Jessica Piasecki and Amelia Quirk.

Junior Men: Euan Brennan, Josh Cowperthwaite, Rory Leonard, Zakariya Mahamed, Benjamin West and Matt Willis.

Junior Women: Charlotte Alexander, Becky Briggs, Grace Brock, Olivia Mason, Amelia Samuels and Eloise Walker.

Further information and a video preview of the World Cross Country Championships course in Aarhus can be found here.

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British Athletics has confirmed it plans to field full senior teams at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus on March 30.

The governing body’s previously released selection policy had stated that full teams would be selected for the junior events, while only senior athletes who finish in the top two at the Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships would be guaranteed places in the team.

The selection policy went on to say that places would be available if the “selection panel believe that there is a realistic potential for the team to finish at least in the top six in Aarhus”.

After the selection policy was released, Kate Avery, was one athlete who spoke to Fast Running and expressed her desire to compete in the global event, saying: “I would also love the opportunity to race the World Cross again, but at the moment the official UKA selection policy is stating only the top two at the Inter-Counties will be taken automatically.

“I have my theories about that, but I just hope they allow a full senior women’s team to go to Denmark.”

The biennial event marks the climax of the winter season for many endurance athletes, and in much welcome news, British Athletics has now outlined its intentions to select full senior teams for the World Cross.

In a statement, the governing body said: “British Athletics consider the IAAF World Cross Country Championships as a stepping stone towards success at future global track and field championships – both for high quality senior endurance athletes and developing junior athletes – and therefore expect to select senior and junior teams, up to six per team, to travel to Aarhus.

“All athletes wishing to be selected for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships are required to compete at the official trials, which take place as part of the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships in Loughborough on March 9.

“The published selection policy for the event guarantees selection for the first two senior athletes in each trial race, with additional athletes added to senior teams where the selection panel believe that there is realistic potential for the team to finish at least in the top six in Aarhus.”

British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black has confirmed that the panel expect and intend to fill all team positions.

“We know there is a huge interest in sending full teams and giving athletes the opportunity to compete, especially with the championships returning to Europe, and it is our intention to ensure we use this year’s IAAF World Cross Country positively to benefit endurance athletes who will be targeting a later than usual World championships in Doha and eventually Tokyo,” said Black.

“We’re looking for athletes to commit fully to the trial races and demonstrate form, but there is no reason why the British athletes cannot compete well in Aarhus and put in strong individual and team performances. We’re not looking at this as an ‘if’ we send full teams, the view point is ‘how competitive’ they will be and we’re looking forward to seeing athletes grab this opportunity and delivering for the British team.”

Interim CEO Nigel Holl added: “It is great to give opportunities for more athletes to compete at a global level, and we know athletes have been concerned they wouldn’t get the chance to compete in the world cross country this year.

“The message is clear, we’re committed to selecting a full squad and the performance team have backed that approach 100%, all we ask is that athletes commit to the trial event and prioritise the competition in their winter schedule.

“The Inter-Counties Cross Country is a great race and knowing team spaces are waiting, we are looking forward to seeing a day of superb competition in Loughborough in March.”

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Many wondered if British Athletics would select senior athletes for the IAAF World Cross Country Championship, however, at least two male and two female senior athletes will have the chance to compete in Aarhus, Denmark on March 30.

The governing body has announced the selection policy for the championships and intends to select full teams for the male and female junior events, while senior athletes who finish in the top two at the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships will secure places for the Aarhus hosted event.

At the 2017 championships in Kampala, Uganda, GB decided not to send a senior men’s team, while Louise Small, Rebecca Murray, Claire Duck and Emily Hosker Thornhill competed in the senior women’s race.

The Trial race will take place at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough on March 9 and all athletes wishing to be selected for the World Cross Country Championships must compete at the fixture.

The selection policy, that was released on Friday (December 2), states that athletes will be added to senior teams (up to a maximum of six per team, with four to score) where the “Selection Panel believes that there is a realistic potential for the team to finish at least in the top six in Aarhus”.

The selection policy also states that if either of the first two placed athletes at the trials is ineligible or declines selection their automatic selection will not be offered to the next eligible athlete.

The selection criteria for the IAAF World Championships in Doha between September 26 and October 6 has also been published.

The British Athletics Championships will take place in August on the 24-25 and will be the track and field trial for the World Championships.

The 10,000m trial for the 2019 World Championships will once again take place at the Night of the 10,000m PBs at Parliament Hill, Highgate in London on July 6.

The London Marathon will incorporate the marathon trial and the standard to make the GB team has been set at 2:13:00 for men and 2:31.00 for women.

This is faster than the IAAF’s qualification standards (2:16:00 / 2:37:00) and must be achieved between 1 May 2018 and 28 April 2019.

The full selection policy for can be found here.

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Great Britain achieved six team podium places at the European Cross Country Championships in Tilburg on Sunday (December 9), although for the first time since 1997 will return home without any individual medals.

Boosted by gold in the junior women’s race, the team was fourth on the medals table. However, not since 2003 has another nation gone home with more medals than Britain and, as their medal tally was highest overall here, they can arguably still claim to be top country in Europe.

With individual golds from brothers Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the under-20 race and Filip Ingebrigtsen in the senior event, Norway topped the medals table, while Yasemin Can was the women’s senior winner.

Senior women

Turkey’s Yasemin Can took gold for the third successive year after a scintillating finish, while the Netherlands pipped Britain for the team title.

Can was prominent early on and soon seemed to be pulling away towards victory, opening up a three-second gap over the chasing Fabienne Schlumpf by 2.5km into the 8.3km race.

However, the Swiss steeplechaser reeled her in and towards the end of the sixth kilometre caught her. As the two fought it out at the front, former European junior champion Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal and Netherlands’ Susan Krumins were clearly gaining over the last kilometre.

Grovdal, making up seven seconds on the leaders over the last 1300m, then left Krumins and seemed to have a chance coming into the finishing straight.

But Kenyan-born Can just had enough for a one-second victory over Schlumpf. Meanwhile, Grovdal, another second back, picked up bronze for the fourth consecutive year and became the first woman to win six individual medals in these championships.

Krumins, a double medallist on the track at the Europeans this year, was a further nine seconds behind in fourth – 29 seconds ahead of the next athlete.

Despite placing four in the top 10, the new three-to-score system left Britain four points adrift of Netherlands. Trials winner Charlotte Arter finished strongly for seventh, 52 seconds behind the winner.

Photo: Andy Peat

Melissa Courtney, Pippa Woolven and Jess Piasecki then followed in immediate succession. Kate Avery in 15th and Verity Ockenden in 20th completed a great overall performance by the British team.

Behind Krumins, Netherlands’ team win came in part thanks to Jip Vastenburg in fifth and Maureen Koster in 11th.

Senior men

After another close race, Norway’s Filip Ingebrigtsen emulated younger brother Jakob’s win in the junior race earlier as Britain took team silver behind Turkey.

Photo: Andy Peat

Ingebrigtsen, the 2016 European 1500m champion, showed his speed to overcome Belgium’s Isaac Kimeli.

A group of eight remained together after 6km of the 10.3km. This was whittled down to five as Turkey’s Aras Kaya and Kaan Kigen Ozbilen, winners the past two years, stretched them out.

Ingebrigtsen injected some pace with around 600m remaining but always looked like he had another gear as he held off Kimeli by three seconds.

Kaya claimed bronze, one place ahead of Ozbilen and Polat Arikan Kemboi made sure of Turkey’s team gold in seventh on 14 points – 20 ahead of GB.

Marc Scott, the 2017 NCAA 10,000m champion, led home the Brits in ninth. Kris Jones, a late replacement for the injured Andy Vernon, was an excellent 12th – just two places lower than at the trials.

Photo: Andy Peat

In 13th, Dewi Griffiths was the third and final scorer as he continues his comeback from injury. Next home for Britain was Charlie Hulson in 17th, while trials winner Ross Millington was 30th. Nick Goolab, who challenged the leaders early in the race, ended up 47th.

Mixed relay

Inaugural winners last year, Britain let slip their grasp on this title after first-leg runner Jamie Williamson fell.

Alex Bell and Phil Sesemann brought Britain back into contention for a medal, however, in the end, Jess Judd lost out to Belarus in the battle for bronze as Spain held off France at the front.

Photo: Andy Peat

Williamson was in second when he went down 200m from the end of his 1200m stage.

With a 3:25 split, he handed over fifth behind France’s Alexis Meillet and then Spain’s Saul Ordonez. Bell, with a 4:23 1500m lap, brought Britain up to third, a couple of seconds behind the leaders, France’s Renelle Lamote and Spain’s Esther Guerrero.

As France’s five-time European track champion Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad then battled to a one-second margin over Spain’s Victor Ruiz, Sesemann (3:54) came in six seconds behind.

Spain and France were together most of the way on the last stage before Spain’s Solange Andreia Pereira moved away for a 4:35 final stage, having to hold off a resurgence from Johanna Geyer-Carles at the end.

Jessica Judd, with a 4:42 split, was caught by Volha Nemahai, who ran 4:36.

A report from the under-20 and under-23 races at the European Cross Country Championships can be found here.

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British Athletics has named a full team of 40 athletes for the 25th edition of the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Tilburg on December 9.

Ross Millington and Charlotte Arter will spearhead the senior teams having won the trials at the Liverpool Cross Challenge on Saturday (November 24).

The British team has enjoyed a rich vein of success at these championships, having topped the medal table in 11 of the previous 12 championships.

After taking senior men’s victory at the trials, 2016 team gold and 2014 team bronze medallist Millington heads the men’s selection, flanked by Andy Vernon, who has won 12 Euro Cross medals in his 10 team appearances.

Nick Goolab earns his first selection since 2012 after a stunning second-place finish in Liverpool, with Marc Scott, Charlie Hulson and Dewi Griffiths completing the team.

Joining Arter in senior women’s team is seven-time Euro Cross medallist Kate Avery and 2016 team silver medallists Pippa Woolven.

Photo: Andy Peat

2017 mixed relay gold medallist, Melissa Courtney and Verity Ockenden make their individual Euro Cross debuts, with Jess Piasecki returning to the British Euro Cross team for the first time since claiming individual gold and team silver in 2012 as an Under-23.

Four-time Euro Cross gold medallist Jess Judd leads the defending senior mixed relay team, hoping to add to her six medals in total from the Championships. Alex Bell, Philip Sesemann and Jamie Williamson, make up the strong quartet.

The Under-23s selections are headed by 2016 individual and three-time team bronze medallist Mahamed Mahamed and team gold medallist from Samorin, Slovakia, last year, Amy Griffiths.

Patrick Dever will be aiming for a third straight team medal at the Championships while Lydia Turner earns a first Euro Cross vest since 2014, when she claimed an individual bronze and a team gold medal in Samakov, Bulgaria.

Making their maiden appearances for the British team within the Under-23s are Emile Cairess, John Millar and Poppy Tank.

Welsh duo and trial winners Jake Heyward and Cari Hughes head the junior teams and are two of seven Welsh athletes selected. The latter claimed Under-20 team gold in Samorin last year alongside Khahisa Mhlanga, who finished third in Liverpool.

Photo: Paul Stillman

Amelia Quirk, who won team gold in Chia in 2016, earns her place after finishing second at the trials, while Jack Meijer, Tiffany Penfold and Grace Brock are handed their first British vests.

Meanwhile, Ireland named its team of 39 athletes on Monday, which includes newly crowned national champions Ciara Mageean and Kevin Dooney.

British team selected for the European Cross Country Championships

Senior men: Nick Goolab, Dewi Griffiths, Charlie Hulson, Ross Millington, Marc Scott, Andy Vernon

Senior women: Charlotte Arter, Kate Avery, Melissa Courtney, Verity Ockenden, Jess Piasecki, Pippa Woolven

U23 men: Emile Cairess, Patrick Dever, Oliver Fox, Mahamed Mahamed, John Millar, Paulos Surafel

U23 women: Dani Chattenton, Abbie Donnelly, Amy Griffiths, Emily Moyes, Poppy Tank, Lydia Turner

Junior men: Isaac Akers, Jake Heyward, Rory Leonard, Jack Meijer, Tom Mortimer, Matt Willis

Junior women: Grace Brock, Cari Hughes, Anna MacFadyen, Khahisa Mhlanga, Tiffany Penfold, Amelia Quirk

Mixed relay: Alex Bell, Jess Judd, Philip Sesemann, Jamie Williamson

RELATED: Charlotte Arter and Ross Millington win Liverpool Cross Challenge

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London Marathon Events Ltd, organisers of the Virgin Money London Marathon, has announced that the company will provide £350,000 in funding to support British endurance athletes in 2019.

In total 32 athletes not currently on the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP), including Charlotte Purdue, Emelia Gorecka, Chris O’Hare and Ben Connor, will receive a share of £70,000, while £100,000 will support the work of the Endurance Performance and Coaching Centre at St Mary’s University in Twickenham.

£180,000 will be provided to British Athletics towards funding the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) and high altitude training camps for British endurance athletes.

Along with Purdue, Gorecka, O’Hare and Connor, the athletes to receive funding from the new programme include marathoners Chris Thompson, Jonny Mellor, Lily Partridge, Hayley Carruthers, and soon to be 26.2 mile runner Steph Twell.

RELATED: Steph Twell set to make marathon debut in Valencia

The nominated group cover the full spectrum of endurance running and completing the 32 athletes are: Mohamud Aadan, Charlotte Arter, Tracy Barlow, Alex Bell, Philippa Bowden, Kieran Clements, Natasha Cockram, Jamaine Coleman, Ellis Cross, Jonny Davies, Tom Farrell, Neil Gourley, Jess Judd, Ross Millington, Tom Mortimer, Amy-Eloise Neale, Aimee Pratt, Marc Scott, Zak Seddon, Charlotte Taylor, Andy Vernon, Katrina Wootton and Alice Wright.

“One of Chris Brasher and John Disley’s founding principles when they created the London Marathon back in 1981 was to improve the standard of British endurance running – and this commitment remains as strong today,” said Hugh Brasher, Event Director of London Marathon Events.

“We want to see British endurance athletes challenging the very best runners in the world in the very best races in the world – including the Virgin Money London Marathon – and the support we gave Mo Farah through his university days and beyond has shown how our funding programmes can help athletes get closer to this goal.

“We are proud to do our part to support British endurance athletes and look forward to a future British winner of the world’s most popular marathon.”

It is the first time London Marathon Events has worked with British Athletics to select the nominated individual athletes and the funding is designed to provide a bridge for endurance runners to the WCPP and to improve the standard of British endurance running across all distances.

British Athletics and London Marathon Events worked together to select a shortlist, with the final decision on the 32 athletes made by British Athletics.

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