Charlotte Arter and Ross Millington claimed the victories in the senior races at the Liverpool Cross Challenge at Sefton Park on Saturday (November 24).

With places on the British senior, under-23 and under-20 teams for the next month’s European Cross Country Championships to be decided, the competition was fierce as expected. The firm ground at Sefton Park led to some electric racing at the front end of all of the events.

Senior Women

An incredibly close senior women’s race saw Jess Piasecki and Verity Ockenden battling with Arter throughout as the lead changed hands several times, but the latter kicked when it mattered, taking first place in 26:10.

Ockenden and Piasecki crossed the line together in 26:14 to secure their automatic spots on the team, with Melissa Courtney following them home in fourth in 26:18.

After missing out on the British team in 2017 through injury, Arter is ready to showcase what she can do on the international stage once again in Tilburg next month.

She said: “It was a really quick race out there and I just had to try and stay with the leading group and I knew all the work would be done on the last lap. I thought Jess [Piasecki] would go earlier, then she came back on my shoulder and gave it my all in the final turn.

“I missed last year’s Euro Cross because I had an Achilles injury and I wasn’t in shape but I made the team in 2016 and it’s a real joy to be back in the British team and earn another British vest.

“It means everything given I had an injury prior to the European Championships in Berlin and I’m really happy to finish 2018 on a high by making the European Cross team. I love it and I’m excited to see what I can do in two weeks.

“The aim was to qualify and now I can set my sights high. As a team, we’ve had great success in the past and hopefully I can play a part in that this year and finish as high as I can individually.”

Senior Men

Millington, a course winner in Liverpool back in 2015, was part of a five-strong leading pack that pulled clear early on, before moving swiftly through the gears and showing great speed in the closing stages to stop the clock in 28:00 and claim his second win in Liverpool.

The Stockport athlete was chased home all the way by Nick Goolab, who required a sprint finish to hold off Marc Scott and Charlie Hulson.

The trio, who were split by just two seconds, recording 28:04, 28:05 and 28:06 respectively to take the remaining three automatic qualification spots, with Dewi Griffiths coming home just three seconds further back in fifth.

After three years away from the British European Cross Country team, Millington is delighted to be back in a British vest and hopes he can show the form he produced in Liverpool in The Netherlands in a fortnight.

“It felt quite different to previous years, normally the group gets away quite quick and when I looked around there was always a load of guys there. I kept looking for Dewi [Griffiths] because he likes to press from the front and I was waiting for that.

“Marc hit the front and I thought I’d go when he went, then it slowed again but after a bit of a rough spot, I got the momentum and pushed it on. I really wanted to win here because I’ve had a few really tough years and I wanted it really badly, especially against such a good field.

“It’s been the goal since the summer to make this team and hopefully in two weeks I’ll be ready to roll. This has been the biggest high point for a while because of the injuries I’ve had but I’m really excited to be back in a British vest.”

Under-23s

The Under-23 places on the British team, which were contested within the senior races, saw Amy Griffiths as the first woman home in 26:48 for eighth place overall, with Poppy Tank securing herself a British vest, clocking 27:18.

Dani Chattenton took third place within the age-group in 27:33, good enough for 25^th overall, while the final automatic qualification spot was taken by Abbie Donnelly, stopping the clock at 27:51.

In the men’s equivalent, the top four athletes all followed each other home inside the top-10, with Emile Cairess winning their battle in 28:23, taking a hard fought sixth place, a second ahead of series leader Mahamed Mahamed, who secures himself another British vest.

Paulos Surafel was three seconds further back in 28:27, with the resurgent Oliver Fox ensured himself an automatic qualifying spot, finishing ninth overall in 28:29.

Under-20s

A hotly contested women’s U20 race saw last year’s European Cross team gold medallists Cari Hughes and Amelia Quirk battle all the way, but Hughes timed her charge to perfection and took her first victory of the Cross Challenge season and her place on the British U20 team in 14:41.

Khy Mhlanga, who remains top of the series leaderboard, powered into third place in 14:45 to retain her place atop the standings, with Grace Brock and Forres’ Anna MacFadyen taking the final automatic places, coming home fourth and fifth respectively.

The men’s U20 race saw Jake Heyward take his second series win with a dominant performance, pulling away with 800m to run to stop the clock in 19:41, well clear of NCAA Athlete Isaac Akers, who finished 12 seconds further back.

Tom Mortimer came home third in 20:00, holding off a determined Matt Willis with the last automatic place taken up by Jack Meijer, stopping the clock in 20:06.

Away from action involving the British team, Hamish Armitt followed-up his second-place in Milton Keynes with victory in the men’s U17 race,  while Charlotte Alexander’s eighth in the combined U17/U20 race earned her a maximum points haul in the U17 class.

Lewis Sullivan led for long spells of the U15 Boys race, only for Woody Jerome to time his charge to perfection and take victory from under his nose, clocking 9:32, while Beatrice Wood pulled out a dominant display to claim U15 Girls victory.

The U13 Boys race saw Isaac Morris and William Rabjohns fight all the way to the line, with the aforementioned Cross Challenge series leader extending his lead by taking victory, while Isla Thoms clocked 11:06 for victory in the U13 Girls race.

RELATED: Kate Avery and Mahamed Mahamed win Milton Keynes Cross Challenge

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The post Charlotte Arter and Ross Millington win Liverpool Cross Challenge appeared first on Fast Running.

Sefton Park is the destination on Saturday (November 24) for the UK’s top endurance runners chasing selection for the Great Britain teams for next month’s European Cross Country Championships.

The third instalment of the British Athletics Cross Challenge in Liverpool will see the top four finishers booking places on the senior and under-23 teams, with the two additional athletes in the six strong teams chosen by selectors. In the under-20 races, the first five finishers qualify for the team, with the final spot at the selectors’ discretion.

Saturday’s action promises some exciting domestic battles for all those athletes hoping to compete in Tilburg, Holland on December 9.

Both Scottish and Welsh national teams will be competing, with the governing bodies responsible for both, keen to have as many athletes fighting for selection spots as possible.

In the senior women’s race, Kate Avery has been impartial to threats from domestic competition so far this season and will be hoping to continue that winning streak this weekend.

Photo: Paul Stillman

The 2015 European silver medallist has recently commented that she is in the shape of her life – so should be the one to beat in Liverpool.

RELATED: Kate Avery and Mahamed Mahamed win Milton Keynes Cross Challenge

Jessica Piasecki made her first cross country appearance in five years in Milton Keynes, finishing second to Avery, and is likely to be one of her biggest threats once again. The Stockport Harrier is a former European U23 champion and will have her eyes on making a mark in the senior ranks of Europe’s flagship cross county gathering.

Gemma Steel has spoken about her intentions for the cross country season and will now open her season in Liverpool. The Charnwood AC athlete is a former European cross country champion and took four consecutive titles here between 2013 and 2016.

Photo: Stephen Lee

Jess Judd was the runner-up last year and has medalled at U20 and U23 level at the European Championships in the past.

Melissa Courtney is more widely known as a track specialist but the Commonwealth Games 1500m bronze medallist could still be a threat having moved on as an athlete since her last outing on the country. Whatever the outcome, however, she is likely to opt for a place in the mixed relay team for Tilburg as a current European champion in that event.

Emily Hosker-Thornhill has thrown her hat in the ring with a third place at the season opener in Cardiff where she finished ahead of Judd.

Charlotte Arter was second in 2016. The British 10,000m champion proved her fitness at the Cross De Atapuerca where she was the top non-African finisher earlier this month.

Rebecca Murray won the BUCS Cross Country in 2017, and definitely one to watch despite looking to prove her fitness following injury.

Mhairi Maclennan, Louise Small, Pippa Woolven, Becky Straw, Verity Ockenden, Jenny Nesbitt and Olympian Sonia Samuels will be amongst a large number of other top British talents looking to impress selectors.

Victoria Weir, Bronwen Owen and Amy Griffiths are all international athletes that will be contesting the U23 race.

Stacked men’s field includes Griffiths, Vernon, Hulson and Traynor

The men’s race may be a little harder to predict but just as stacked as the women’s contest.

Andy Vernon is likely to feature, despite last having won this race in 2013 when he went on to claim European bronze. His experience on the country and undoubted strength will be an advantage on a course that can be tough when muddy underfoot.

Charlie Hulson was the winner of the 2016 English National Cross Country Championships and a victory at Cardiff signs his return to that kind of shape.

Mo Aadan, who spent a period training at altitude with Mo Farah earlier this year, ran a lifetime best at the Commonwealth Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff of 62:31 and will be out to impress on Saturday.

Dewi Griffiths finished narrowly behind Aadan in the Welsh capital. The Swansea Harrier was third last year and is always to be feared given his array of previous race wins including an Inter-Counties title and a record six consecutive Welsh titles.

Photo: Paul Stillman

Ross Millington has two top five finishes from Liverpool to his name and should be a serious contender, as should English National champion Adam Hickey.

Luke Traynor certainly has pedigree as one of the top British talents of the last decade with a 61:53 half marathon clocking to his name. The Scotsman has slightly less proven form on the country however.

Also among the entries is Marc Scott, who certainly has the pace to make things difficult for his rivals as the current British champion over 5000m. Alex Teuten is another former BUCS cross country champion that will be in action.

Mahamed Mahamed won in Milton Keynes after finishing narrowly behind Hulson in Cardiff. He is a likely favourite for the U23 race along with Oliver Fox, the runner-up in Milton Keynes.

Photo: Andy Peat

Both will also be looking to challenge for the race win outright. Twins Petros and Paulos Surafel will also be likely to feature in the challenge for U23 honours.

Under-20 and Under-17 battles

Khahisa Mhlanga will face Grace Brock in the U20 women’s race. The pair will go head to head and last year’s U17 Inter-Counties champion Brock will have gained confidence after beating the 2017 European U20 800m Champion in Cardiff.

Cari Hughes was an ever-present last season and most likely to cause an upset here along with Surrey County Champion, Charlotte Dannatt.

The head to head between Welsh athletes Matt Willis and Jake Heyward will be one of the most anticipated duals of the day. The former is a world duathlon champion and the latter a European champion at 1,500m.

Willis chose the domestic path to Liverpool with a victory at Milton Keynes with Heyward opting to take an international victory at the Cross De Atapuerca where he beat the current Inter-Counties Champion, Rory Leonard.

RELATED: It’s a family affair for Morpeth’s Inter-Counties champion Rory Leonard

Leonard will, in fact, be a main contender in the fight to stop the title going back to Wales along with Zakariya Mahamed and Nathan Dunn who was the runner-up in Loughborough back in March.

Charlotte Alexander will look to repeat her U17 win from earlier this month and Olivia Mason will look to go better than her runner-up spot last year.

Mohamed Ali has a perfect record so far this autumn with U17 victories in Wales and at Milton Keynes. Archie May, Matt Stonier, Hamish Armitt and Matthew Mackey are all due to be in action and all have top three placings to their names so far this autumn.

Timetable

10.45: U11 Boys – 2km
10.55: U11 Girls – 2km
11.05: U13 Girls – 3km
11.20: U13 Boys – 3km
11.35: U15 Boys – 3km
11.50: U15 Girls – 3km
12.05: U17 and U20 women – 4.4km
12.25: U17 men – 5.5km
12.45 U20 men – 6.7km
13.05: Senior women (includes U23 women) – 8.1km
14.05: Senior men (includes U23 men) – 9.8km

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The post Britain’s best set for muddy battle at Liverpool Cross Challenge appeared first on Fast Running.

Kate Avery and Mahamed Mahamed won the senior races in the second fixture of the British Athletics Cross Challenge series at Teardrop Lakes in Milton Keynes on Saturday (November 10).

Avery continued her impressive start to the cross country season as she claimed victory in a tightly contested senior women’s race ahead of Jessica Piasecki and Jess Judd.

The multiple time European cross country medalist crossed the finish line of the 5650m course in 18:14, five seconds ahead of Stockport Harriers’ Piasecki, who was competing in her first cross country race since 2013.

Avery was also the first British athlete at the Cross Challenge series opener in Cardiff last month, and can now confidently look ahead to the GB team trials for the European Championships in Liverpool in two weeks time.

“I’m over the moon with that,” said a delighted Avery after her win. “Training has been going much better since the race in Cardiff and I wanted to be really strong and didn’t want it to be a slow pace from the start, so I tried to push it on a bit.

“It slowed down again but I picked it up at the end when it mattered. It’s a little shorter than Liverpool and Europeans will be which is what helped make it so close but it was still tough.

“Over the last two to three years, I doubted whether this would be possible to run like I have been this season. I doubted I’d get back to winning but I’d be over the moon to make the team for the European Cross.

“You question yourself when you’re not seeing the improvements that you’d like but since the end of the track season, I’ve turned such a big corner and to win here is amazing.”

Wycombe Phoenix’s Pippa Woolven finished fourth, Swansea Harriers’ Verity Ockenden fifth, while Lucy Reid completed the top six a week after helping Tonbridge clinch gold at the English Cross Country Relays.

In the senior men’s race, it was a repeat of 12 months ago with Southampton’s Mahamed securing the win in slippery conditions following a torrential downpour.

Photo: Adrian Royle

The 21 year-old saw off the challenge of Wells City Harriers’ Oliver Fox as he pulled away in the final 200m to clock 27:22 over the 9150m course.

Alex Teuten made sure Southampton had two athletes in the top three, with Ipswich Harriers’ John Millar and English National cross country champion Adam Hickey completing the top five.

Matt Willis won the men’s under-20 honours in his first race of the season. The Wrexham AAC athlete, who was the first placed British athlete at the European Cross Country Championships last December, crossed the finish line in 16:50 ahead of Southampton’s Zak Mahamed.

Ilkley Harriers’ Euan Brennan was third, while Ealing Southall & Middlesex’s Mohamed Ali was fourth overall and first under-17.

After finishing as the runner-up in Cardiff, Khahisa Mhlanga returned to the top of the podium with a commanding win in the women’s under-20 race.

Finishing second and also first under-17 was Charlotte Alexander of Herne Hill Harriers ahead of Camberley & District’s Charlotte Dannatt.

Next up for the UK’s best cross country runners is the third fixture of the Cross Challenge series, which incorporates the GB team trials for the European Cross Country Championships, at Sefton Park in Liverpool on November 24.

RELATED: Charlie Hulson and Anna Moller win Cardiff Cross Challenge

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The post Kate Avery and Mahamed Mahamed win Milton Keynes Cross Challenge appeared first on Fast Running.

The next round of the British Athletics Cross Challenge series takes place in Milton Keynes on Saturday (November 10).

Some of the UK’s best cross country runners will meet for a second time this autumn with many honing their preparations for the European trial race in Liverpool later this month.

The season opener in Cardiff early last month saw stronger fields than seen in recent year’s, giving an indication of a strong season of domestic racing to come.

The women’s race was the strongest of the day on that occasion and Saturday’s event is also looking extremely strong in the women’s category.

Kate Avery was the first Briton home last time finishing narrowly behind outright winner, Danish international Anna Moller.

Photo: Paul Stillman

Following the race, Avery commented that she was happy with training and how she had performed, which could indicate that the former European cross country silver medallist is returning to the shape that saw her claim that honour in 2015.

Gemma Steel is an important addition this time and was, in fact, the only athlete to beat Avery at those championships three year’s ago. The Charnwood AC athlete has commented recently on her hopes for the season ahead.

Jess Judd is a third athlete expected to race in Milton Keynes that knows what it feels like to medal at a major championships. The Blackburn Harriers athlete is also very familiar with the Tear Drop Lakes course, starting Saturday’s race as defending champion.

Claire Duck was last year’s Yorkshire champion and fourth at the Leeds Abbey Dash last weekend. The Leeds City runner will hope to feature along with Lucy Reid, who earned a first England vest at the recent Commonwealth Half Marathon Championships.

Verity Ockenden had somewhat of a breakthrough season last year and will be on hand, to add to the racing tempo along with 2017 BUCS Cross Country champion, Rebecca Murray and Rio Olympian Sonia Samuels.

Charlie Hulson was emphatic in the senior men’s race at the season opener and views the European Trials as a major target.

He will be the likely favourite for this second fixture and will again be joined by Mahamed Mahamed and by Adam Hickey, the current English National Champion.

Photo: Paul Stillman

Southampton AC’s Mahamed is another athlete who will be at home in Milton Keynes after he claimed victory there 12 months ago.

Mahamed’s club mate Alex Teuten is another former BUCS champion who will be a major threat in Milton Keynes.

Graham Rush is a serious contender on the country and is joined by Jack Gray who impressed in Cardiff by finishing fourth.

This season is likely to see exciting battles in the junior age-groups and in particular the U20 women’s category.

The season opener saw last year’s U17 challenge winner Grace Brock transition to the U20 age group dominantly with victory over 2017 European U20 800m Champion, Khahisa Mhlanga.

The pair will face-off once again in Milton Keynes where they’ll be joined by Cari Hughes who was another of last season’s ever-presents at the serious end of domestic cross country racing. Hughes finished ahead of Mhlanga when the pair featured in the British gold medal winning team at the European Cross Country Championships in Slovakia.

The U20 men’s race will see a first test of the season for Matthew Willis of North Wales based club Wrexham AAC. Willis was the top finishing Brit at both the European Cross Country Championships and at the Great Edinburgh International in January.

Jake Heyward is a notable absence due to racing commitments in Spain. In fact, Oliver Barbaresi is the only athlete from the top five in Cardiff that will contest the course in Milton Keynes.

Willis’ greatest test could come from last season’s Inter-Counties runner-up Nathan Dunn or Zakaraya Mahamed who will look to emulate his older brother’s recent success.

Action in Milton Keynes will start at 11:30 with the U11 girls race and culminates with the senior men and masters race at 14:10.

Timetable

Time / Event / Approx distance
11:30 U11 girls, 1800m
11:45 U11 boys, 1800m
12:00 U13 girls, 2590m
12:15 U13 boys, 2590m
12:30 U15 girls, 4200m
12:45 U15 boys, 4200m
13:00 U17/U20 women, 4700m
13.25 Senior women, 5650m
13.50 U17 men, 5650m
14.10 U20/Senior men, 9150m

RELATED: Charlie Hulson and Anna Moller win Cardiff Cross Challenge

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The post Fierce racing expected as the Cross Challenge visits Milton Keynes appeared first on Fast Running.

Charlie Hulson and Danish athlete Anna Moller took victories in the senior races at the Cardiff Cross Challenge in Llandaff Fields on Saturday (October 13).

Cardiff was the host once again for the first of five fixtures in the British Athletics Cross Challenge Series, as well as the opening event of the John Collins Gwent Cross Country League. For the first time, this year’s event also had an international element with athletes from France, Denmark, Belgium and Malta among those competing.

Danish international steeplechaser Moller, who studies at St. Mary’s University, won the women’s senior race in a time of 21:48 after a close battle in the final stages.

The early part of the race saw a host of British athletes tightly bunched with their European rivals which included France’s 2013 European Cross Country champion Sophie Duarte and Denmark’s Moller.

Photo: Paul Stillman

As the race progressed the leading pack was down to around eight athletes with Blackburn’s Jess Judd, Tonbridge’s Nicole Taylor and Moller among those at the forefront.

That group soon withered down to four with Moller, defending champion Judd, multiple-time European medalist Kate Avery and Emily Hosker-Thornhill battling it out for the podium spots, while Morpeth Harriers Mhairi Maclennan found herself running solo in fifth.

Coming down to the finish line it was the reigning European U23 steeplechase champion Moller who pulled away for the win, with Shildon Running & AC’s Avery claiming the runner-up spot in 21:52.

Photo: Paul Stillman

“It means very much to me to win today because I didn’t expect it,” said Moller. “I’m training in a new group with Mick Woods and just getting used to that training, so this was a test for me. I liked the course and the atmosphere today.

“The European Cross Country Championships will be my main goal now until December.”

Aldershot’s Hosker-Thornhill, who ran the fastest leg at the National Road Relays last weekend, was right on Avery’s heels and completed the podium in 21:54, while Judd finished fourth.

After working her way back to race fitness this year, Avery has gotten her cross country season off to a great start and said afterwards: “It was tough. I’m really happy with how I performed because I’ve just been getting back into training sessions and I’m really pleased with how I did. It wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be.

“It was a really strong field despite it being the first meet out. I thought some might not do it because it’s the first race of the campaign but I’m pleased with how I handled it.”

Scottish cross country champion Maclennan was fifth, ahead of Tonbridge’s Taylor and Irish Olympian Sara Treacy completed the top seven.

British Olympian Kate Reed, who has endured years of injuries and operations, made a welcome return to competition and finished 11th.

In the men’s senior race it was 2015 English National champion Charlie Hulson who kicked off his cross country season with a superb win.

Photo: Paul Stillman

The Liverpool Harrier, along with defending series champion Mahamed Mahamed, Ipswich Harriers’ John Millar and Southend AC’s Adam Hickey, were among a close group of seven leading men at the halfway mark.

As the 9.6km race approached the final lap Hulson and Edinburgh AC’S Craig led the pack, but there was nothing between the field and very much anyone’s race.

Welshman Hulson pulled away in the closing stages and despite the best efforts of Southampton’s Mahamed, had done enough to take the win in 29:53.

It was back-to-back runner-up spots in Cardiff for Mahamed who crossed the line in 29:54. English National champion Hickey completed the podium in 29:57, with Cambridge & Coleridge’s Jack Gray fourth and Millar fifth, in 29:58 and 30:01 respectively.

 Brock and Heyward win U20 races

Cornwall AC’s Grace Brock won the women’s U20 crown finishing 10 seconds ahead of Herts Phoenix’s Khahisa Mhlanga.

Brock, who recently spoke to Fast Running about her impressive 10k road debut, took control of the 4.45km race and with one kilometre to go had opened up a sizable gap.

The 17 year-old maintained her lead and crossed the finish line in a time of 15:32.

Defending champion Mhlanga worked hard in the closing stages to overtake Cari Hughes but couldn’t close the gap on Brock crossing the line for second in 15:42.

After finishing third last year, Swansea Harriers’ Hughes repeated her position on the podium clocking a time of 15:50, 11 seconds ahead of fourth.

The men’s U20 race was won in dominant fashion by Jake Heyward who successfully defended his crown in Cardiff.

Photo: Paul Stillman

The Cardiff AAC athlete, who won the overall U20 series last season, took the tape in 19:56 finishing over 30 seconds ahead of U17 series champion Rory Leonard.

Morpeth Harriers’ Leonard claimed the runner-up spot ahead of Menai Track and Field’s Oliver Barbaresi in 20:34.

The U17 races were won by Team Easy Lothian’s Cera Gemmell and Ealing Southall & Middlesex AC’s Mohamed Ali.

Milton Keynes will host the next fixture in the Cross Challenge series on Saturday, November 10.

*Please note all finishing times were unofficial at the time of publishing and provided by Full On Sport.

RELATED: Cross country – a look ahead to the racing season

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The post Charlie Hulson and Anna Moller win Cardiff Cross Challenge appeared first on Fast Running.

Cari Hughes returns to the Cardiff Cross Challenge on Saturday (October 13) hoping for another podium finish in the Junior Women’s race.

Hughes finished third at last year’s Cardiff Cross Challenge event and enters this weekend’s race in Llandaff Fields off the back of her most successful track season to date.

“I’m really looking forward to starting my 2018/2019 cross country season at Cardiff on Saturday,” says the Swansea Harrier. “It’s a great race and I’m excited to get back racing.”

The Loughborough University student broke the Welsh Junior 1500m record in the summer as she clocked a new lifetime best of 4:17.51 at the BMC Stretford Grand Prix, and was also crowned BUCS 1500m champion. Her summer achievements resulted in winning Junior Female Endurance Athlete of the Year at the recent Welsh Athletics Awards Dinner.

“Winning Female Endurance Athlete of the Year was a special moment for myself, I didn’t really expect to win so it was a nice surprise,” she says. “It was an honour to receive such a great award in front of a room filled with so many inspiring and talented people.

“It was an inspiring night, and I feel lucky to have been a part of it.”

The 19 year-old’s focus now switches back to the cross country terrain, a surface she has thrived on in recent seasons. Her cross country races in 2017 included winning the Welsh Schools title, Welsh Junior title and representing Great Britain at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and European Cross-Country Championships.

Photo: Paul Stillman

“I love cross country, I think it’s great to get out in the cold and get stuck into some hard running,” she explains. “It makes you strong, physically and mentally. I like hills but I’m not a huge fan of mud, cross country courses like The Great Edinburgh Cross suit me well.

“However, the course on Saturday should also suit me. I personally prefer cross country over track at the moment, as I’ve struggled to perform to the standard I’d have hoped to on the track. I do think in a few years I will focus on track more and use cross country as preparation for that.”

Whilst she admits it’s difficult to place many expectations on her performance at the weekend, Hughes still hopes to be competitive at the sharp end of the Junior Women’s race.

“Having the first Cross Challenge series race of the season at Cardiff is always good,” she says. “There will be a lot of Welsh support out on the course, which always helps and I’m really looking forward to it.”

“As it’s the first race of the season, it’s always hard to gauge where you’re at but training’s been going well these last few months, so it should be good.

“I suffered with a slight cold last week, but I’ve had a full week to get back training and hopefully I’ll be able to get right up there and challenge for a podium place finish once more Saturday. It looks like a high calibre field, so I’m excited to race hard and see what happens on the day.”

A Cardiff Cross Challenge preview and timetable of events can be found here.

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The post Cari Hughes looking forward to cross country season opener appeared first on Fast Running.

Jess Judd, Kate Avery and Mahamed Mahamed are among the leading entries for the Cardiff Cross Challenge in Llandaff Fields on Saturday (October 13).

The meet is the first of five fixtures in the British Athletics Cross Challenge Series, as well as the opening event of the John Collins Gwent Cross Country League.

Blackburn’s Judd was the commanding winner 12 months ago in Cardiff and also enjoyed victory at the Milton Keynes event.

Judd heads into Saturday’s race on the back of an astonishing 34 track races in recent months. There has been no end of season rest for the 23 year-old, who most recently competed for her new club Blackburn Harriers at the National Road Relays, where she ran the second fastest leg of the day.

Photo: Stephen Lee

Running the fastest leg last week in Sutton Park was Emily Hosker-Thornhill, who, along with club mate Louise Small are among the leading entries for Saturday’s 6.4km race. The duo were among the quartet who clinched an 11th National Road Relay crown in 12 years for the dominant Aldershot Farnham & District.

RELATED: Aldershot and Stockport win National Road Relays

Another star set for the start line is multiple European Cross Country medalist Kate Avery. The 27 year-old, who ended the track season with a 1500m of 4:15.42, has worked her way back to race fitness in 2018 and will possibly start as the favourite in Cardiff.

Although Gemma Steel pipped her to the overall Cross Challenge series title, Phoebe Law was the star of the domestic cross country scene last season, claiming gold at the Inter-Counties Championships, the English National and the South of England Championships.

The Kingston & Poly athlete hasn’t raced since April but shouldn’t be overlooked over the country on Saturday.

Photo: Andy Peat

British Olympian Kate Reed, who has endured years of injuries and operations, is set to make a welcome return to competition on Saturday. The Bristol & West athlete last raced in February 2017 running 73:43 on her half marathon debut.

For the first time, the Cardiff Cross Challenge also has an international element this year, with notable entries including France’s 2013 European Cross Country champion Sophie Duarte and Belgium’s Imana Truyers.

Other notable domestic entries include North of England and Scottish champion Mhairi MacLennan, Leeds City’s Stevie Stockton, and Irish Olympian Sara Treacy.

In the men’s race, overall 2017/18 Cross Challenge champion Mahamed returns to Cardiff aiming to go one better after finishing second last year.

The Southampton athlete was the domestic cross country star last season and claimed victories in Milton Keynes and the Inter-Counties in Loughborough.

Photo: Andy Peat

“Last year in Cardiff I was second and there’s only one way to improve and that’s to win it this year,” said the 21 year-old. “There’s a bit of pressure on me going in as the defending series champion, but I’m not letting that bother me.

“For me, the Cross Challenge series is very important. The whole series has become a huge part of my training diary and each time I take part, the aim always remains the same, to win.”

RELATED: Mahamed Mahamed is just getting started

On Saturday, he faces a top line-up that includes reigning English National cross country champion Adam Hickey, and 2015 and 2016 champions Charlie Hulson and Jonny Hay.

Prior to his win at the Nationals in February, Southend’s Hickey finished runner-up at the South of England Championships’ gruelling 15km course. He ended his cross country season with a third-place finish at the Inter-Counties.

Hulson’s last cross country race was at the European Trials in Liverpool last November, and the Liverpool Harrier has spent most of 2018 racing on the roads. Most recently, the Welsh international won the Chester Metric Marathon, clocking 86:58 over the 26.2km course.

Aldershot’s Hay finished third last year in Cardiff, almost 30 seconds adrift of second-placed Mahamed, and will aim for an improved performance this weekend.

Among the other notable entries are Cambridge & Coleridge’s Jack Gray and Aldershot’s Ellis Cross.

Leading entries in the junior races include Cardiff’s Jake Heyward, Herts Phoenix’s Khahisa Mhlanga and Swansea’s Cari Hughes. Heyward is the U20 men’s Cross Challenge series champion, while Mhlanga finished as runner-up in the U20 women’s standings.

The action gets underway at 11:30 am with the Under 11 Girls race and concludes with the men’s 9.6km race at 2:55 pm.

Cardiff Cross Challenge provisional timetable

11:30 Under 11 Girls 1,250 m
11:40 Under 11 Boys 1,250 m
11:50 Under 13 Girls 2,780 m
12:05 Under 13 Boys 2,780 m
12:20 Under 17 Men 5,560 m
12:45 Under 17/20 Women 4,450 m
13:10 Under 15 Girls 3,200 m
13:25 Under 15 Boys 3,200 m
13:40 Senior & Master Women 6,400 m
14:25 Under 20 Men 6,400 m
14:55 Senior & Master Men 9,600 m

RELATED: Jess Judd And Sam Stabler reign at cross challenge opener in Cardiff

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The 2018 Cardiff Cross Challenge will kick-start the British Athletics Cross Challenge series on Saturday, October 13, and will also host the first fixture in the renamed John Collins Gwent Cross Country League.

Jess Judd and Sam Stabler won the senior races in the Welsh capital last year, while the event also saw a first national win on the country for European junior 1500m champion Jake Heyward.

Photo: Paul Stillman

The event has previously welcomed many, if not most of the top British endurance runners including a large number of UK Inter-Counties champions such as; Frank Tickner, Peter Riley, Andy Vernon, Louise Damen, Jess Judd and Dewi Griffiths.

In addition, it has hosted several European Cross Country champions including; Hayley Yelling, Charlotte Purdue and Gemma Steel.

For the first time in many years, the event will include an international element, with organisers aiming to attract some of the top athletes from across Europe in addition to the top British athletes that already contest the races annually.

The Cardiff Cross Challenge will offer a first outing of the cross country season for many and a first test against some of the best athletes from across the continent before the European Trials at Liverpool in late November.

The addition of the local league means that the event continues to provide a great racing opportunity for athletes of all abilities and an opportunity for runners to compete against the very best endurance athletes from the UK and beyond.

Full British Athletics Cross Challenge fixtures

Saturday 13th October – Cardiff Cross challenge
Saturday 10th November – Milton Keynes Cross Challenge
Saturday 24th November – Liverpool Cross Challenge
Saturday 19th January 2019 – Belfast Cross Challenge
Saturday 9th March 2019 – British Athletics Cross Challenge Final inc UK Inter-Counties Championships (Loughborough)

RELATED: Cardiff Cross Challenge organiser wants more investment in cross country

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Law, who has already won National and South of England titles this year, added one further crown to her name to conclude a fantastic cross country season.

Representing Surrey, the Kingston & Poly athlete looked at home (if that is even possible) in one of the muddiest ever Inter-Counties as she pulled away the second half of the race to win by a 42-second margin. So heavy was the going that she was held back to 32:51 for the 8km course.

“It was really tough today. Especially with Gemma chasing me, which was really terrifying,” said Law. “This is definitely the course for me. Mick (Woods) makes me strong.”

Explaining how she ended up on the floor after the finish, she said: “I was exhausted at the end. I thought they were closing on me.”

Leicestershire’s Gemma Steel was second with Lincolnshire’s Abbie Donnelly, who enjoyed the best run of senior career, just nine seconds behind in third.

Such was the winner’s effort that she collapsed to the floor as soon as she had cut through the tape. Though ending on equal on points with Steel, the series title was decided on the final positions in Prestwold Hall, with Law also leading to the team win too.

Verity Ockenden, who lead the Cross Challenge standing going into today’s race finished 17th and third concludes the series third overall.

Steel, who is preparing for the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships later this month, was disappointed to lose out on the series title, complaining of stomach trouble.

Talented Mahamed continues to excite

After wins in Milton Keynes, and a National U20 title Mahamed showed there is no end to his breakthrough season.

The 20-year-old Hampshire athlete pulled away from his only close pursuers, Sam Stabler and National champion Adam Hickey, at the start of the second lap and stretched away for a 49-second win in 42:23 over the 12km course.

“I’m really happy with that. It was my last cross-country of the season so I just wanted to see how I felt and go for it,” said Mahamed afterwards. “I felt good and nobody came with me. I thought Sam (Stabler), Andy (Vernon) and Adam (Hickey) might have worked together and caught me but fortunately, they didn’t so I was happy.”

Leicestershire & Rutland’s Stabler described the race as the hardest he had ever run as he secured second in the race and in the series. Meanwhile, Essex’s Hickey was another seven seconds behind in third, 27 seconds ahead of Andy Vernon, who was third in the standings.

The senior men’s team title went to Middlesex ahead of Lancashire.

Mortimer and Brown win junior titles

Earlier in the day, Tom Mortimer took the junior men’s race by 12 seconds over Nathan Dunn to end his season on a high after a disappointing pre-Christmas.

The 19-year-old, who won bronze at the English National, said: “Nobody pushed it on [at the start]. It was really slow. Once I got to the top of the hill, I thought I may as well go, I’ve got a bit of a gap anyway. I thought I could win it but I didn’t think I’d win it by that much.”

Behind Dunn in third, Cardiff’s Jake Heyward was another eight seconds behind as he did enough to confirm the overall Challenge win. It shows the incredible range of the British Athletics Futures Academy athlete who only set a PB of 8:00.93 over 3000m indoors last month.

Niamh Brown made a move at about halfway to come away to a nine-second win in the junior women’s race.

It capped a fine season for the 18-year-old, who was 12th at the Euro Cross for GB&NI in December who said: “I’ve had a good season, so far so it was really nice to end it with a win.”

In the early stages, Brown had to battle Cambridgeshire’s Julia Paternain (Mark Vile, Cambridgeshire), who walked away with the Cross Challenge title for the very first time.

Brown added: “Once I was clear I had to stay mentally strong and confident to not let it fall back, but I think I did a good job.”

U17 and U15 races

Morpeth’s Rory Leonard (North East) was a surprised winner of the U17 men’s race, crossing the line 21 seconds clear of Thomas Keen, who prevailed in the series standings.

It was a vast contrast in fortunes for him compared to two weeks ago at the English National when he fell and ended up concussed, unable to finish. Zakariya Mahamed was third, 16 seconds adrift of Keen.

Grace Brock took the U17 women’s race and with it the overall challenge title after pulling away about 3km into the 5km race. Describing it as the best win of her career, she was 20 seconds clear of Holly Smith. India Pentland was third, ahead of National winner Ella McNiven.

In the U15 boys’ race, Will Barnicoat left it until about three quarters of the way through his 4.5km race to take the lead and moved away to finish three seconds clear of Samuel Martin and Liam Rawlings (Colin Lancaster, Shropshire) who wrapped up the podium positions. Mohamed Ali, the English champion, was fifth which did enough to win the Challenges series in the age group.

Sussex’s Beth Cook used the uphills to her advantage in the U15 race to win by 18 seconds from Scotland West’s Lily-Jane Evans-Haggerty, who was crowned Challenge champion, with Scotland East’s Anna Hedley third in the race at Prestwold Hall.

The post Phoebe Law and Mahamed Mahamed win Inter-Counties crowns appeared first on Fast Running.

With the British Athletics Cross Challenge titles up for grabs as well as Inter-Counties honours to be contested spectators are set for an enthralling battle among some of Britain’s best cross country runners.

With over 1,000 hectares of farmland and parkland, Prestwold Hall, is the perfect location once again to bring the domestic cross country season to a close.

Following their English National titles at Parliament Hill last month Phoebe Law and Adam Hickey will join familiar faces from this season’s Cross Challenge series on Saturday.

Law will line-up with Verity Ockenden, who sits top of senior women’s Cross Challenge standing after finishing as the first British runner at the Antrim International, as well as a second place finish in Cardiff and third in Milton Keynes.

“I think we’ll all be happy if we don’t get DQ’d for contact in the first hundred metres,” the Cross Challenge leader joked in reference the disqualifications at the World Indoors. “With the weather recently, it’s going to be tough going for everybody but that’s what makes it fun, I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Winner of the events in Cardiff and Teardrop Lakes in Milton Keynes, Jess Judd, will not be competing at Prestwold Hall with the Commonwealth Games soon on the horizon.

However, it will not just be a two-way race between English National champion Law and Ockenden who represents Dorset, with Gemma Steel, Louise Damen and Scottish National runner-up Steph Pennycook also among the entries.

Steel was announced in the British World Half Marathon team this week and will want to bring her cross country season to a close with a good performance again at Prestworld Hall. The 32-year-old finishing third last year despite running the second half of the race shoeless due to the difficult conditions.

2017 Inter-Counties runner-up Claire Duck is also among the entries and if competing will surely challenge again for honours.

In the senior men’s race, English National champion Hickey will face the joint Cross Challenge leaders Sam Stabler and Mahamed Mahamed, as well 2017 Inter-counties winner Andy Vernon, who is ranked third.

Leicester & Rutland’s Stabler won the series opener in Cardiff and Hampshire’s Mahamed clinched a win in Milton Keynes, while Vernon took the spoils in Antrim.

The men’s field also includes Scottish National runner-up Lachlan Oates, while Patrick Dever and Chris Olley are more than capable of finishing high up in the field.

Zakariya Mahamed is the leading entry in the men’s U20 race in the absence of Ben Dijkstra, while in the women’s U20 event, Khahisa Mhlanga, who has won two events so far in the Cross Challenge series will be the favourite to secure the title.

Timetable

11:00am: Under 20 Men – 8km
11:30am: Under 13 Boys – 3km
11:45am: Senior Women – 8km
12:25pm: Under 15 Boys – 4.5km
12:45pm: Under 17 Women – 5km
13:10pm: Under 20 Women – 6km
13:35pm: Under 13 Girls -3km
13:55pm: Under 17 Men – 6km
14:15pm: Under 15 Girls – 4km
14:40pm: Senior Men – 12km

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