It comes almost four months after Edinburgh abruptly ended its long-term backing for the televised showpiece, which has attracted the world’s best cross country runners.

With the city unwilling to maintain the six-figure financial backing required, despite pleas from within athletes lead by world medallist Laura Muir, rivals from England had launched bids to poach the race which is considered second only in prestige to the World Cross Country Championships.

But despite what it is understood to be interest from Glasgow and other Scottish cities, Kings Park in Stirling set to become the new venue.

“The Edinburgh international cross-country is a fantastic event for Scotland,” said VisitScotland’s Events Director Paul Bush. “It gets 1.4 million viewers on BBC TV and we’ve always been keen to keep it in Scotland.”

Scottish Athletics chief executive Mark Munro welcomed the offer of Scottish Government backing to keep the event north of the border.

“It’s great because it’s an event kids can go to and see people like Laura or Mo Farah up close,” commented Munro. “And you can get a real sense of what top-class running is like.”

Europe’s Yasemin Can and USA’s Leonard Korir won the final international races in Edinburgh, while Laura Muir ran the anchor leg to retain the Stewart Cup for Great Britain in the relay race.

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O’Flaherty, who was not included in the Northern Irish team for Commonwealth Games, was determined to bounce back positively with a good display in Holyrood Park.

Eoin Everard ran an impressive first leg closing the early Belgium lead, and by the exchange to Laura Crowe was neck and neck with Europe and the Belgian team. Crowe of An Riocht looked comfortable and led intermittently in the second of four legs, before relinquishing the baton to Kieran Kelly.

In the penultimate leg, the strength of the British and all Spanish European team showed and Raheny Shamrock’s Kelly handed off to Olympian O’Flaherty in fourth place of eight teams. Newcastle AC’s O’Flaherty gave it everything she had and cemented fourth place for Ireland three seconds ahead of the two chasing Scottish teams featuring Jake Wightman and Steph Twell, as well as the English and American quartets.

Laura Muir showed her class to pull away from the European and Belgian challenge early in the final leg before sealing a seven-second win and retaining the Stewart Cup.

Next up for Ireland in Edinburgh was Fionnuala McCormack in the blue of Europe competing in the senior women’s race. McCormack finished second last year in the Scottish capital but was not at her best this time around and finished in 11th place in a time of 21:42 over the 6km course.

The race was won by European teammate Yasmin Can of Turkey in 20:58 with Britain’s Emelia Gorecka second and USA’s Molly Seidel third.

Representing Europe, West Muskerry AC’s Stephanie Cotter finished 21st in the U20 women’s race. The 18-year-old Irish athlete, who finished a fantastic third last week at the Antrim International, crossed the line in 16:16. The race was won comfortably by American Kelsey Chmiel in 14:10.

Earlier in the day, Fionnuala Ross won the Scottish Inter District senior women’s title with an impressive seven-second win. Ross, who made her Irish senior debut in Samorin last month, hails from Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland, but now lives in Scotland and competes for Glasgow club Shettleston Harriers.

Additional coverage and race reports from the Edinburgh XCountry can be found here.

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Great Britain’s Emelia Gorecka battled right to the end of the women’s senior race at the Great Edinburgh XCountry as she attempted to close in on the early lead of Europe’s Yasemin Can.

Come the second of four laps in Holyrood Park, Gorecka, who was part of the GB gold-winning team in Samorin last month, had worked her way to the forefront of those in the hunt to close Can’s advantage. As the 4km race progressed and despite a huge effort from the 23-year-old Aldershot athlete, Can of Turkey successfully held on to retain her title in the Scottish capital, winning in a time of 20:58.

Gorecka can take immense credit from her gutsy display over the final two laps to diminish the closing gap to only two seconds in 21:00, with USA’s Molly Seidel third in 21:04.

RELATED: Emelia Gorecka: Laying foundations with Chris Thompson for long term success

“For me, a top five would have been an amazing performance. Prior to the race, top three would have been good. But once I got into second position, I was telling myself ‘don’t lose it’. That kept me going, said Gorecka afterwards. “But at the same time, people were saying ‘you should be going for first.’ I was using that to get me going. I was getting closer on the last lap but it’s the kind of course with all the twists and turns, that it’s going to be tough.”

“If someone had told me I’d come through all of this, I’d have thought they were having a laugh,” she added reflecting on her comeback this winter. “All I wanted to do was get back in the mix and feel like an athlete again. To be in the mix here, I feel like I’ve gone beyond that now. To be back and get that buzz back, that’s’ what I’ve missed so much.”

Britain’s Phoebe Law finished sixth in 21:21, with Verity Ockenden, a late addition to the GB team, sealing a top ten place with eighth in 21:35, followed by Jess Judd and senior debutant Harriet Knowles-Jones in ninth and tenth respectively.

Ireland’s Fionnuala McCormack in the blue of Europe and the runner-up last year will be disappointed to finish adrift in 11th place.

Muir anchors GB quartet to relay glory

Running the final of four laps Laura Muir made it look effortless as she pulled away with ease from her European and Belgium counterparts to successfully retain the Stewart Cup.

Muir, who started 2018 with the Scottish 3000m indoor crown, received the baton from Adam Clarke. Debutant Clarke had made a determined drive to pull away in the third leg only for his challengers to draw him back in – handing off in third place.

However, the gap two-time European indoor medalist Muir had to close was fairly insignificant given her track pedigree, and once in front, it was only a matter of how big the win would be.

As Muir crossed the finish line the biggest cheer of the day from the home Scottish crowd was heard as the GB team retained the Stewart Cup.

Earlier in the 4x1km race, Welsh athlete Tom Marshall led out the GB team, before handing over to Alexandra Bell who ran an impressive second leg particularly on the hill sections of the course.

With Great Britain taking the win, it was the Belgium in second, with Europe third and Ireland, anchored by Kerry O’Flaherty, fourth.

USA’s Korir retains senior men’s title

For the second consecutive year, it was Leonard Korir of the USA who sealed victory in Edinburgh. Mirroring race tactics from 2017, when he overtook Callum Hawkins, it was Europe’s Kaan Kigen Ozbilen who Korir passed as they neared the final descent to the finish line.

The Turkish athlete and European champion could do little to respond and finished second with 24:35, three seconds behind Korir in 24:32 over the 8km course. In third place was Europe’s Aras Kaya of Turkey in 24:39.

Ben Connor had a fantastic run, and lead the British contingent to finish fifth overall. Connor, who finished sixth at the European XC Championships drove the pace early in race asking questions of the top field of Europeans and Americans.

Connor split a trio of European athletes from a trio of USA internationals, including the 2016 winner in Edinburgh Garrett Heath, who finished sixth. Despite the close packing, Europe had just done enough to seal the team victory from America by three points.

Andy Vernon was the best amongst the rest of the British team and sealed a top ten spot to finish ninth.

U20 men and women’s internationals

In the men’s junior race it was an impressive cross country performance from Britain’s Matt Willis to clinch the third spot on the podium.

The 17-year-old Welshman finished behind Team Europe pair Simen Halle Haugen of Norway and Ouassim Oumaiz of Spain over the 6km course.
Tom Mortimer and Jake Heyward were the next British finishers, in sixth and seventh respectively.

American Kelsey Chmiel was the convincing winner in the women’s 4km junior race. Chmiel finished three seconds ahead of Europe’s Mariana Machado of Portugal and European junior 5000m champion Jasmijn Lau of the Netherlands.

Cari Hughes was the top British performer six seconds adrift in fourth, closely followed by teammates Khahisa Mhlanga and Niamh Brown.

At the end of the action in Edinburgh, the final team standings saw Europe take top honours ahead of Great Britain and the USA.

It was also revealed that the international cross country event, which has been held in Edinburgh since 2005, will have a new home from next year. Organisers are currently in discussions with potential locations to stage the 2019 edition.

Inter District Championships

Dundee Hawkhill Harrier Kristian Jones representing East Scotland won the senior men’s race in the Inter District Championships.Jones finished six seconds ahead of West Scotland’s Lachlan Oates of Shettleston Harriers, with Scottish Students’ Logan Rees third.

West Scotland’s Fionnuala Ross of Shettleston Harriers impressed to the win the senior women’s race by seven seconds ahead of North of England pair Abbie Donnelly of Lincoln Wellington and Georgia Malir of Leeds City.

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Andy Vernon, Jess Judd and Emelia Gorecka are among the British team taking on Europe and the USA in four scoring races, two senior and two under-20 races, as well as the non-scoring mixed relay. Laura Muir heads the GB team in the mixed relay and will no doubt receive the biggest cheer from the Scottish crowd.

European Cross Country champion Yasmin Can, who won individual honours last year in Edinburgh, once again starts as the favourite in the senior women’s race.

The Turkish athlete leads a strong European team that includes Ireland’s Fionnuala McCormack, who was the runner-up in 2016, Swedish star Meref Bahfa and Ancuta Bobocel of Romania. Desiree Linden is among the top American team that also includes Chelsea Blaase and Molly Seidel.

With Judd, Gorecka and junior European champion Harriet Knowles-Jones Edinburgh bound, the GB team is well represented to challenge for top honours.

For Knowles-Jones, it’s a first time competing in the senior category, but following her performance in Samorin, it should be excitement instead of nerves that fills the 19-year-old on Saturday. The strong team is completed by Louise Damen (Winchester), Phillipa Bowden (Aldershot Farnham & District), Verity Ockenden (Swansea Harriers), Phoebe Law (Kingston & Poly) and Mhairi MacLennan.

Team Europe men’s team includes no fewer than six of the top eight finishers from the championships in Samorin last month and is headed by Turkey’s Kaan Kigen Ozbilen.

However, Ozbilen will face a very different cross country course to the dry, flat conditions in Slovakia. Holyrood Park has tested some of the greatest ever cross country runners over the years and Saturday will be no different over the 8km course.

Over the past few years, the course has changed and now omits the hill known as the Haggis, but will still provide a testing surface for the fields. One athlete who always excels in Edinburgh is Garrett Heath of the USA, beating Mo Farah in 2016. Teammate and defending Edinburgh champion Leonard Korir also returns to the Scottish capital.

Other athletes likely to challenge include; Chris Derrick (USA), Aras Kaya (Turkey), Adel Mechaal (Spain) and Hassan Chahdi of France.

Antrim International fourth-place finisher Vernon and Ben Connor, who was sixth at the European XC Championships head the British contingent aiming to impress. Given Connor’s growing confidence from recent performances and Vernon’s improvements in every race following injury, the British pair will be amongst those challenging for podium spots.

Also, fellow British team members Jack Martin, Patrick Dever, Andrew Heyes, Nick Goolab and European Cross Country representatives; Chris Olley and Southampton duo Alex Teuten and Mahamed Mahamed will all aim to begin 2018 with strong performances.

Before the senior races get underway the mixed relay event will see international teams compete for the Stewart Cup. The British team of recent Scottish 3000m indoor champion Muir, Alexandra Bell, Tom Marshall and Adam Clarke will take on teams from Europe, the USA, Scotland, England, Ireland and Belgium.

Jake Wightman and Steph Twell will line out in the Scottish A team and newly crowned 3000m indoor champion Sol Sweeny in the B team, while 2016 Olympian Kerry O’Flatherty features in the Irish quartet.

Inter-District XC action

Away from the international cross country, the backdrop of Arthur’s Seat will also inter-district races take place with teams from East Scotland, North Scotland, West Scotland, Scottish Students and the North of England will competing.

In the senior races, some of the runners to look out for are Jack Morris (Stockport Harriers) who finished 30th at the European trials in Liverpool, Alastair Hay (Central AC) who ran an impressive 8:10 for 3000m back in August, Lachlan Oates (Shettleston Harriers) finished 16th in a high-class field in Antrim last weekend, and Andrew Douglas (Inverclyde) the 2017 British Mountain running Champion.

2017 winner Morag MacLarty (Central AC) will return aiming to impress home crowds, however, she will have competition from English National XC bronze medallist Claire Duck (Leeds City) and Fionnuala Ross (Shettleston) who last weekend finished ninth at the Antrim International.

The Great Edinburgh XCountry action will be broadcast live on the BBC from 13:15.

Schedule
10:15 – U15 Girls Inter-District & U15 Boys inter-district
10:40 – senior & U20 women inter-district
11:10 – senior & U20 men inter-district
11:45 – U20 Great Edinburgh Winter Run
11:50 – U13 girls inter-district & U13 boys inter-district
12:15 – Great Edinburgh XCountry U20 men’s (inc. U17 inter-district)
12:45 – Great Edinburgh XCountry U20 women’s (inc. U17 inter-district)
13:23 – Great Edinburgh XCountry 4 x 1km relay
13:55 – Great Edinburgh XCountry senior women
14:35 – Great Edinburgh XCountry senior men

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Swansea Harrier Ockenden, who finished first European and clinched full Cross Challenge points at the Antrim International last Saturday (January 6) has been added to the British senior women’s team alongside Louise Damen for the cross country showdown with Europe and the USA this weekend in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park.

Damen competed at the Great Edinburgh XCountry in 2016 finishing 23rd. The duo have been added following the withdrawals of Amy Griffiths and Elle Vernon due to injury.

Andrew Heyes, who last competed in Edinburgh in 2015 and Jack Martin are replacements on the men’s team following the withdrawals of Dewi Griffiths and GB debutant at the European Cross Country Championships, Sam Stabler.

Heyes, who opened his indoor season with third over 3000m at the BMC indoor GP, said in a tweet: “Pretty decent start to 2018. Engaged, solid 3000m opener indoors, and back in the red white and blue of GB at Edinburgh this coming weekend!”

The British team of 34 athletes will face Europe and the USA in Edinburgh in senior and under-20 races, as well as a mixed relay event.

The European team that includes Ireland’s Fionnuala McCormack and the USA team, can be found here.

Updated Great Britain team for Edinburgh XC.

Senior Men
Ben Connor, Patrick Dever, Nick Goolab, Mahamed Mahamed, Chris Olley, Alex Teuten, Andy Vernon, Andrew Heyes and Jack Martin.

Senior Women
Katie Bingle, Philippa Bowden, Emelia Gorecka, Jess Judd, Harriet Knowles-Jones, Phoebe Law, Mhairi MacLennan, Verity Ockenden and Louise Damen.

Mixed Relay
Alex Bell, Adam Clarke, Tom Marshall and Laura Muir.

U20 Men
Jake Heyward, Ricky Lutakome, Tom Mortimer, Hugh Sadler, Lachlan Wellington and Matthew Willis.

U20 Women
Phoebe Barker, Niamh Brown, Cari Hughes, Khahisa Mhlanga, Eloise Walker and Erin Wallace.

The post Ockenden and Heyes among GB team updates for Great Edinburgh XCountry appeared first on Fast Running.

Lining-up alongside the trio for the January 13 cross country event are Emelia Gorecka, Jess Judd, Dewi Griffiths and Andy Vernon.

Muir once again leads the British quartet for the senior mixed relay making her fourth successive appearance and is yet to be beaten in the event.

Alongside Muir, Alex Bell – one of nine British senior debutants in the team – is joined by Adam Clarke and Tom Marshall; the latter anchored the British team to the first ever European Cross Country Championships gold at the weekend.

Gorecka, who won the senior women’s race in 2015, is joined in the senior women’s team by fellow European team gold medallist Elle Vernon and the U20 Champion Knowles-Jones. Judd, a U23 bronze medalist in Samorin also makes the team.

Connor headlines the senior men’s team and is joined by Griffiths and Vernon. Also included in the team is British debutants last weekend Sam Stabler and Alex Teuten.

Four European cross team gold medallists star in the U20 women’s race – Phoebe Barker, Niamh Brown, Cari Hughes and Khahisa Mhlanga.

The highest placed finisher in the U20 men’s race on Sunday, Matthew Willis, leads the U20 men’s entries for the British team.

The European team was announced on Wednesday 14 December and features Fionnuala McCormack amongst others.

Senior Women
Katie Bingle, Philippa Bowden, Emelia Gorecka, Amy Griffiths, Jess Judd, Harriet Knowles-Jones, Phoebe Law, Mhairi MacLennan and Elle Vernon.

Senior Men
Ben Connor, Patrick Dever, Nick Goolab, Dewi Griffiths, Mahamed Mahamed, Chris Olley, Sam Stabler, Alex Teuten and Andy Vernon

Senior Mixed Relay
Alex Bell, Adam Clarke, Tom Marshall and Laura Muir

U20 Women
Phoebe Barker, Niamh Brown, Cari Hughes, Khahisa Mhlanga, Eloise Walker and Erin Wallace

U20 Men
Jake Heyward, Ricky Lutakome, Tom Mortimer, Hugh Sadler, Lachlan Wellington and Matthew Willis

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Joining McCormack, a winner in Edinburgh in 2012 and 2013, are Turkey’s European champions Kaan Kigen Ozbilen and Yasemin Can.

Can, who successfully retained her European Cross Country title on Sunday in Samorin, won the senior women’s race last January in Edinburgh.

McCormack, also a two-time European champion, made a record 15th appearance at the championships in the Slovakian town – finishing 12th and exactly one minute behind the winner.

Also selected for the meeting that sees Great Britain, USA and Europe battle in four races; the senior men’s 8km, senior women’s 6km, men’s U20 6km and women’s U20 4km, are European U23 winner Jimmy Gressier of France and Norway’s two-time U20 gold medallist Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

The overall winning team will be determined by the best aggregate finishing positions of the six best-placed athletes in the senior category, as well as the four best-placed athletes in the junior races.

As the host nation of the event, British athletes were not considered for Team Europe selection.

Also, following the success of the inaugural mixed relay at the European Cross Country Championships, the Great Edinburgh XCountry will also have a mixed relay event and the European Team comprises of all Spanish athletes.

Senior men
Polat Kemboi Arikan (TUR), Soufiane Bouchikhi (BEL), Hassan Chahdi (FRA), Jimmy Gressier (FRA), Hugo Hay (FRA), Aras Kaya (TUR), Daniel Mateo (ESP), Adel Mechaal (ESP) and Kaan Kigen Ozbilan (TUR) – Reserve: Emmanuel Rudolff Lévisse (FRA)

Senior women
Fionnuala MCormack (IRL), Yasemin Can (TUR), Meraf Bahta (SWE), Roxana Barca (ROU), Ancuta Bobocel (ROU), Isabelle Brauer (SWE), Elena Burkard (GER), Nuria Lugueros (ESP) and Cristina Simion (ROU)

U20 men
Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR), Luca Alfieri (ITA), Adrian Garcea (ROU), Mario Garcia (ESP), Simen Halle Haugen (NOR) and Annasse Mahboub (ESP) – Reserve: Ouassim Oumaiz (ESP)

U20 women
Nadia Battocletti (ITA), Roos Blokhuis (NED), Carla Gallardo (ESP), Jasmijn Lau (NED), Cristina Ruiz (ESP) and Delia Sclabas (SUI) – Reserves: Emine Akbingol (TUR) and Mariana Machado (POR)

Mixed relay
Jesus Gomez (ESP), Esther Guerrero (ESP), Solange Pereira (ESP) and Victor Ruiz (ESP)

The USA team can be found below.

Senior men
Emmanuel Bor, Chris Derrick, Trevor Dunbar, Garrett Heath, Leonard Korir, Ian La Mere, Ryan Mahalsky, Morgan Pearson and Abbabiya Simbassa.

Senior women
Chelsea Blaase, Anne-Marie Blaney, Desiree Linden, Rosa Moriello, Olivia Pratt, Natosha Rogers, Molly Seidel, Makenna Smith and Katrina Spratford.

U20 men
Drew Bosley, Dustin Horter, Dylan Jacobs, Danny Kilrea, Clayton Mendez and Graydon Morris.

U20 women
Kelsey Chmiel, Maggie Farrell, Katelynne Hart, Claudia Lane, Cailie Logue and Emily Venters.

Mixed relay
Will Geoghegan, Travis Mahoney, Ayla Granados and Rebecca Mehra.

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