Dannatt claims the biggest win of her career

The CAU Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships traditionally signify the close of the cross country season. Hundreds of athletes headed to the mud ridden Prestwold Hall to take part this year in the event doubling as the final Cross Challenge in the series.

With the amount of rain dumped on the country recently there was no doubt that the course would’ve been deep in mud, and that it was. Athletes fought for their county as they bounded through the relentless, thick clay. The tough 10km course turned out to be a slightly soul destroying 1.3km longer too for good measure!

After the postponement of the World University Cross Country in Marrakech due to coronavirus, Charlotte Dannatt made a last-minute decision to race but wasn’t it a good job she did? Dannatt took home the biggest win of her career and admitted after she didn’t quite know how the break the tape!

Charlotte Dannatt & @Mahamed1920 claim the Inter Counties titles as @KateAvery12& Mahamed take Cross Challenge titles.

Our report from the Cross Challenge series finale in Loughborough here #MuddyBrilliant https://t.co/AP9ynBkYSe

— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) March 7, 2020

The silver medal went to Oxfordshire’s Jess Gibbon, who has had an absolutely storming cross country season. After winning the Southern cross country, coming 4th at nationals, and dominating the Hampshire league, Gibbon said goodbye to cross country in style.

She also claimed 4th in the overall cross challenge series rankings. The third-place podium position went to Phillipa Williams of the North East after a cracking run. Williams ran at the World Mountain Running Championships last year and put her strength on the uphills to good use.

In fourth place was Dani Chattenton of the MK Distance Project. The 1500m runner has also had a brilliant season and was also selected for the World University team. In fifth place and gaining the winning title for the overall Cross Challenge series was cross country queen, Kate Avery. After racing at the European Cross-Country Championships for the seventh time in December and winning the Stirling Cross Challenge, Avery was a truly well-deserved winner.

Mahamed and Hickey the men to beat as Evans impresses again

In the men’s race, Mahamed Mahamed also gave an impressive performance to take home the gold medal. After Mahamed and Hickey pushed away from the main pack after the first half of the race, Mahamed stormed ahead to create a 15 second gap. Mahamed not only took the race win, but also captured the winning prize for the overall Cross Challenge Series for the third time.

Hickey came through in a convincing second place, a solid 39 seconds ahead of third place. The Essex athlete tied his laces on extra tightly after losing a shoe at the nationals and kept both feet in his spikes has he put in yet another impressive XC display.

Hickey was followed by ultra-runner, Tom Evans, who took home is first ever podium finish in the Inter-Counties with a stunning performance. The versatility of Sussex athlete is a very rare thing probably in world let alone British athletics. A man who can race 100k+ plus on the trails and yet still build new speed to use over the cross and on the roads.

South Wales’ James Hunt came in fourth after winning the Welsh XC Championships and Trafford 10km over the last two weeks. In fifth place after becoming English champion was Calum Johnson.

@Mahamed1920 rounds off the day with victory in the senior men’s race in 37:21 #MuddyBrilliant pic.twitter.com/ZXGYWCSeUU

— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) March 7, 2020

In the South East Lancashire League, more athletes took to the muddy fields of the UK. Craig Jones of M/R Ymca took home the winning title with a lead of 1 minute 20 seconds. Jones finished ahead of East Cheshire’s Robin Horner and Tim Greenald who came in second and third.

M/r Ymca also took the win in the senior women’s race as Rebecca Whalley was first to cross the line. It was Hayley Simpson from East Cheshire who followed 15 seconds behind Whalley. The bronze medal finish went to Heather Hughes, Whalley’s clubmate.

Out of the mud.

Not racing, but instead on pacing duty, was Charlotte Purdue. Purdue proved that her marathon build up is in full swing as she managed to knock out a time of 1:10.26 through half way at the Nagoya Marathon.

Griffiths maintaining his racing streak

The Llanelli Half did not disappoint producing some fast times and fine performances. Luckily the sun shone for the athletes. After running at the Big Half last weekend and finishing 17th in 65:53 and racing the Welsh XC Champs the week before, Dewi Griffiths secured himself a convincing win in a rapid 66:52.

Griffiths was followed by Luke Williams (Guernsey) with a personal best by over 2 minutes in 69:53. Third position was claimed by Matthew Rees of Swansea in 71:04. In the women’s race the times were just as speedy.

Natasha Cockram secured herself the position at the top of the podium, doing International Woman’s Day proud. Cockram, who is coached by Tony Houchin set a half personal best of 75:27 with a five-minute lead. Second place went to Carys Hughes (Cardiff) in 1:20:35 and third place went to Rachel Davies (Swansea) in 1:23:36.

Knight & Escalante-Phillips win Cambridge Half

At the Saucony Cambridge Half Marathon, Cambridge and Coleridge dominated over the flat course that goes through the colleges of the beautiful University city. Jonathon Escalante-Phillips landed himself the victory title in a rapid 65:36, a PB after a fine 2019.

Escalante-Phillips was over 90s ahead of second place Chris Darling, also of C&C, with a time of 67:10, a lifetime best by just under two minutes. Alex Milne, recently selected to run for England over 100k, took third place in 67:25.

C&C dominated once again in the women. It was Victoria Knight who took home the win and was just seconds off her PB clocking 74:45. In second place with a time of 77:16 was Emma Hodson of Cambridge University Hare and Hounds with a best time by 2 minutes 45 seconds. The third-place medal went to Katie Brown (Trent Park RC) in 79:53.

Quick times clocked in Chester

At the Aldi Chester 10k, after also being disappointed by the postponement of the World University Cross Country, Dan Jarvis made a last-minute decision to race in his first ever road 10k. Jarvis had a cracking run to smash the 30-minute barrier.

The Bedford & County AC athlete crossed the line in a solid 29:45 to take the win from Kadar Omar of Birchfield Harriers in 30:15 . Omar boasts a PB of 28:39, which he set at Telford back in December. Third place went to Ian Crowe-Wright in a strong 30:33.

The winner of the women’s race was Charnwood athlete and British distance legend, Gemma Steel. Steel ran across the line in 36:22. Tessa McCormick (Vale Royal) shortly followed behind in 36:45 ahead of Joanna Marsden (Ellesmere Port) in 37:09.

Massive congratulations to the female winner of the 3rd @ALDIUK #Chester10K Gemma Steele in a time of 36.22! pic.twitter.com/X5LBImTK9K

— Chester Marathon, Half and 10K (@chestermarathon) March 8, 2020

Bell & MacLeod claim Crawford 10km titles

The Jack Crawford 10k continued a weekend of fast road times. In first place, with an impressive time of 30:57, was John Bell (I.A.C) finishing just five seconds off of his lifetime best time. Corstorphine AAC runner, man Mark Haskett set a PB by over a minute with 32:34 for 2nd. Rounding off the men’s podium was Kevin Liddle of Garscube Harriers in 32:45, another PB by 52 seconds.

The first female finisher, also from Corstorphine AAC, was Jessica MacLeod. The U20 athlete ran an impressive 38:54. In second place, Ruth Fraser-moodie (Springburn Harriers) crossed the line in 39:47. Charlene Kelly (Dumbarton AAC) was third woman in 41:06.

Rounding up the roads

Johnny Van Deventer took home the win at RunThrough Victoria Park 10k clocking 31:27, in his first ever 10km race. In 32:27, Angus Butler of Herne Hill proved the massive progression he has made over the past few years. With a previous personal best of 36:41 set in 2017, Butler took over four minutes off of his time. Third place was claimed by Erik Fossen Nilsen in 33:16. For the women, Sophie Ballie took to win in 41:05 followed by Heather Wilson and Konstantina Rapti in 41:59 and 42:41 respectively. The half marathon event shows some very odd chip times so we won’t even go there…

Marshall Smith (73:23) and Kana Akimoto (90:20) took the Lydd Half Marathon titles.

The win at the Surrey Half Marathon went to Ben Cole (Tonbridge). Cole stopped the clock on 70:22, 33 seconds ahead of second placed Max Dumbrell. The Horsham Blue Star runner crossed the line 70:55 ahead of third placed Alastair Cambell 71:12. The women’s title was claimed by Katie Harbon of North Herts with a personal best by almost eight minutes in 82:44. Rebecca Hair was second in 83:58 and Becky Morrish completed the women’s podium in 84:44.

At the Surrey Half 5k it was the juniors who came to the fore with some storming runs. U17 athlete Ryan Symington (Poole AC) had a fantastic run in his first ever road 5k, the junior ran an impressive time of 15:29. Stephen Blake crossed the line at the exact same time, also 15:29 for a rare tie. In second position, just one second behind the winners was Max Duckworth (AFD) also an U17 athlete.

Third place went to Charlie Kershaw (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) in 15:39 in his road 5k debut. For the women, Junior athlete Jemima Ridley claimed the win with a time of 19:03. Guildford & Godalming’s U13 athlete, Katie Pye ran her first sub 20 time for the 5k distance, stopping the clock on 19:20. Third was claimed by Emmie Savory in 19:25, also her first sub-20 clocking.

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The post Dannatt & Mahamed win Inter-Counties – weekend round up appeared first on Fast Running.

Arter & Nesbitt perform in world class field

As athletes around the UK and Ireland took to their own muddy fields, in northern Spain athletes contended with windy conditions at the 16th Cross Internacional de Atapuerca. The opening race 2019-20 IAAF Cross Country Permit series had an exciting start with a shock win from Spain’s Ouassim Oumaiz giving the host country their first victory since 2006.

Oumaiz is admittedly the European U20 cross-country silver medalist but for him to take the lead 16 minutes into the 9k course and hold on to finish in 25:54 was rather unexpected, especially when you consider that the field included a host of top-10 placers from the World Champs in Aarhus earlier this year. Silver went to Uganda’s Thomas Ayeko in 25:56 and Bronze to his compatriot Timothy Toroitich in 25:56. No GB men took part in the race.

The women’s race was rather less of a wildcard as Ethiopia’s Senberi Teferi took her fourth consecutive victory in 25:38 for 8k. She was followed by Kenya’s Eva Cherono (25:42) and Fikadu Zenebu (ETH) in 25:44. Charlotte Arter went out strong, sticking with the lead pack to go through 2k in 6:55 but Cherono kept the pace moving it proved too much to hang on to. She still ran strong to finish in an excellent 7th place in the world class field in 26:29. In another super result for Wales, Jenny Nesbitt came 9th in 27:18.

Avery and Mahamed shape up for Euro Cross Trial

Back in the UK, Kate Avery (Shildon) and Mahamed Mahamed (Southampton AC) both retained their senior titles in the British Athletics Cross Challenge at Teardrop Lakes in Milton Keynes, leaving them ready for the Euro Cross trials in a couple of weeks.

The MK course features a mixed terrain and a bunch of short, punchy hills but over 5.6k Amy Griffiths (Aldershot, Farnham & District; Rob Denmark) proved up to the challenge as she finished second in 20:11. Bronwen Owen who has previously run for GB in World Cross junior champs placed third in 20:19.

Kate Avery & Emily Hosker-Thornhill. Credit: Nigel Bramley

Despite being out at the front with Avery until relatively late in the race, Emily Hosker-Thornhill had to settle for fourth and Fast Running’s own Hannah Irwin (Guildford & Godalming) came a storming fifth place. Get in Hannah! Dani Chattenton (Milton Keynes Distance Project) was sixth.

With icy rain now thrown into the mix for the men’s race it truly was mud-and-guts race that resulted in a third consecutive win for the Mahamed Mahamed over 9.05k. Sam Stabler of Wreake & Soar Valley held off a home-straight challenge from ultra-distance man Tom Evans (Lewes) and Jack Gray (Cambridge & Coleridge) followed him home for fourth. Alex Teuten (Southampton) was fifth.

Tom Evans. Credit: Nigel Bramley

Quality field on show at the Bobby Rea International

There was a victory for Team New Balance MCR’s Adam Craig at the Bobby Rea International XC in Belfast and judging by the photo it looks like they had proper XC weather too! Craig ran 8k in 29:56 to finish ahead of the Welsh 2-3 of James Hunt and Ieuan Thomas in 33:00 and 33:05.

In the team standings though it was City of Derry Spartans who came out victorious, Beechmount Harriers second and North Belfast Harriers third. Ireland’s Michelle Finn made the home crowds happy as she powered home in 19:11 to take gold in the women’s race. GB’s Mhairi MacLennan was hot on her heels to place second in 19:14 comfortably holding off Armagh AC’s Fionnuala Ross who completed the 5k course in 19:35. North Down AC topped the team standings, with Armagh AC and Beechmount Harriers in their wake.

#muddybrilliant day for @AdamCraig95 winning the @AthleticsNI #bobbyreaxc in Belfast pic.twitter.com/Wm4IGZnaft

— TeamNBMCR (@TeamNBMCR) November 9, 2019

Butchart & Simpson win Lindsays Short Course Champs

At Kirkaldy High School (Scotland) despite even more muddy conditions which would normally favour less track-centric runners, Central Athletics’ Andy Butchart claimed his 5th National XC title.

The Lindsays Short Course XC Champs covers a 4k course which Butchart finished in 11:54, just one second ahead of a strong challenge from Glasgow Uni’s Sol Sweeney and Morpeth’s Carl Avery who completed the race in 11:58. Overall, the team victory also went to Central AC.

In the women’s race it was Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds who took the team Gold. Annabel Simpson led the women home in 13:57 for the host club, Fife AC. Making it a one-two Jenny Selman was second in 14:04 leaving it to U20 champion Megan Keith to take the bronze spot for Inverness Harriers in 14:08.

Credit: Bobby Gavin

World road 5km record broken in France

Over in France at the Urban Trail Lille 5k there was only one GB runner in the form of a rather mysterious Barnaby Pell, who we can’t find any information on other that he finished in 18:22. Whilst that might be intriguing, Robert Keter is more likely to be the name of interest to you.

The Kenyan took seven seconds off Bernard Lagat’s previous world record with his winning time of 13:22 (subject to ratification). Now, that’s a pretty speedy 5k but it is worth noting that the 5km road distance has only been recognised as a world record event since November 2017.

There were other faster times clocked before that, but Keter’s winning time in Lille is the fastest since it became an officially measured record. Mercy Jerop, also from Kenya was first female in 16:21. The women’s record stands at 14:44 and is held by Sifan Hassan.

Davis bang in form

At the Semi-Marathon De Tamesna in Morocco Elsey Whyman-Davis (Preston) took 10 seconds off her half marathon PB set earlier this year in Barcelona. She ran 72.34 on a hilly, windy course to take a huge boost of confidence with her through to Valencia Marathon in just three weeks time. It was great to see her back in PB shape. Her current marathon PB stands at 2:42:29 so we’ll be looking out to see how much she knock off that in Spain.

Thanks to these girls for pushing me along to a new half marathon PB 72.34 . 3 weeks to #valenciamarathon #runtamesna #runningmorocco pic.twitter.com/xhjFknicv5

— Eleanor Whyman-Davis (@elseydavis1) November 10, 2019

XC league action across the UK

It was a busy weekend of cross country league races but most of the results are still outstanding including the Surrey League, Hampshire League, Gwent League and Manchester Area League amongst many others. Polly Keen was the winner of the Midlands Women’s League Division One in a time of 25:08 and Rebecca Weston won the Kent League at Bexleyheath in a time of 18:19.

The Met League is one of the most competitive XC leagues in the country and this weekend’s race at Welwyn was no different. Elizabeth Janes of Herts Phoenix took the win in the senior women’s race in a time of 28:30, eight seconds clear of Revee Walcott-Nolan (Newham & Essex Beagles) in 2nd and Nina Griffith (Highgate) in 3rd (28:58).

The senior men’s race was won by Serpentine’s Callan Moody in a time of 24:27 with the sub 30km man just edging out Highgate’s Alexander Leprêtre (24:28) with an excellent run for Austin Roth of Victoria Park Harriers leaving him in 3rd in 24:36.

The remaining UK action

It wasn’t just abroad that there was spike-free action. Away from the mud splatters of Cross Country there were a few other races happening in the UK this weekend amidst the rather calmer conditions of Sunday morning. The Race Organiser’s Draycott 10k resulted in a win for Thomas Keenan (Coventry Godiva Harriers) in 35:04 and Rafaela Fonseca (37:53). Run Through’s Richmond Park Half Marathon took just 1:26:29 for Lindy-Lee Folscher to finish and gain her top spot, while for the men it was James Kennedy in 1:18:32.

Kevin Quinn (51:41) and Liz Davies (58:01) won Stebbing 10 mile race. Davies’ time was a course record and saw her crowned Essex 10 mile champion alongside 2nd placed finisher in the men’s race Mark Newton (53:32) both from Springfield Striders.

Fylde Coast Runners held their Windmill Remembrance 10k and it was their own Jody McGurk who cross the line first for the ladies in 38:09 followed by Annabel Ralph (Blackburn Harriers) in 38:48. The men’s race has a sub-34 top two, with Rossendale Harriers’ Jonathan Cleaver finishing in 33:40 with Dewsbury Road Runners’ Mark Holden eight seconds behind him.

Lee Strachan was the winner of the Glen Clova Half Marathon in a time of 76:00 and the winning woman was Lynsay Hall in 91:36. At the Coalville 10k Thomas Yates did it for the V40’s holding off the youngsters to break the tape in 37:57. Gaynor Watts did the same for the ladies, also running the V40s to victory in a time of 47:10.

Finally a huge well done to Hannah Taunton on her international debut finishing 5ht in the T20 1500m at the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai in a time of 4:45.01.

The Peterhead AC 10k results are tbc but will be published here later as well as the results for Bath Hilly Half which will be posted here and the Poppy Half Marathon here.

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The post Kate Avery & Mahamed Mahamed win in MK – weekend roundup appeared first on Fast Running.

Britain’s top cross country runners will race at Loughborough’s Prestwold Hall on Saturday (March 9), with many eyeing a spot on the GB team for the World Cross Country Championships later this month.

Making the team for the biannual global championships will be the main goal. However, there are also Inter-Counties and overall British Athletics Cross Challenge titles to be decided.

The race distance was equalled to 10km for senior men and women at the last World Cross Country Championships, and this weekend, both men and women will run the same distance for the first time at the Inter-Counties ahead of the Aarhus hosted event.

Mahamed Mahamed, who is the defending Inter-Counties champion, delivered a golden performance at the English National two weeks ago to add the senior men’s national crown to the under-20 title he won a year ago.

Photo: Andy Peat

The Southampton athlete will aim to secure his spot on the plane to Aarhus this weekend and among the top names he’ll face are Marc Scott, Ross Millington and possibly Charlie Hulson.

All three competed for GB at December’s European Cross Country Championships, with US-based Scott the first British finisher in ninth place.

Millington will also fancy his chances on Saturday after winning the Euro Trials in Liverpool, while Hulson won the first Cross Challenge fixture in Cardiff last October.

Another athlete who will be right in the mix is Sam Stabler – a runner-up in Loughborough 12 months ago. Stabler returned to action in January after injury setbacks to take maximum Cross Challenge points at the Nothern Ireland International Cross Country.

Other leading entries in the senior men’s race include Scottish National Cross Country champion Adam Craig, who has been in excellent form, Andrew Heyes, Adam Hickey, Alex Teuten, Midlands champion Jack Gray, John Millar and Patrick Dever.

Kate Avery and recently crowned English National champion Emily Hosker-Thornhill head the entries in the senior women’s race.

Avery has been the most consistent performer this season across the Cross Challenge series following strong performances in all four events, including the top prizes in Milton Keynes and Cardiff.

Denmark’s Anna Moller, who is ineligible in the Cross Challenge, was the sole athlete ahead of Avery in Cardiff, with Hosker-Thornhill next across the finish line.

Prior to her superb win at the English National, Aldershot’s Hosker-Thornhill was the first British finisher at the Northern Ireland International Cross Country.

Photo: Pete Brown

British Euro cross representatives Jess Piasecki and Verity Ockenden will also be in contention, while fellow team silver medalist in Tilburg, Pippa Woolven, is set to miss out due to illness.

Piasecki finished second and third at Milton Keynes and Liverpool during the Cross Challenge series, while Ockenden also starred in Liverpool taking the runner-up spot.

Other runners hoping to be in the mix include Jess Judd, Mhairi Maclennan, Welsh cross country champion Jenny Nesbitt, Louise Small and Naomi Taschimowitz.

Also among the leading entries are four of the top six placed athletes at Prestwold Hall last year; Gemma Steel, Abbie Donnelly, Claire Duck and Amy Griffiths.

Ahead of Saturday, Mahamed and Hulson share the top spot in the senior men’s Cross Challenge series, while Avery heads the women’s standing.

After some confusion about the number of senior athletes going to the World Cross Country Championships, British Athletics clarified its intentions to send full teams, up to six per team, with the top two in each senior race guaranteed selection.

Meanwhile, in the junior races, the top three finishers gain automatic qualification for Aarhus.

After winning the English National under-20 crown Rory Leonard is the standout entry in the men’s race. Among those joining him on Saturday are Zak Mahamed, Matt Willis, Jack Meijer and Benjamin West.

In the junior women’s race, Grace Brock is a strong favourite after an impressive cross country season that included silver at the English National a fortnight ago.

The Cornwall athlete currently leads the Cross Challenge standings and her challengers this weekend include Amelia Samuels, Becky Briggs, Grace Copeland, Eloise Walker and Naomi Lang.

The men’s under-20 event at 11.00am is the first race of the day, with the action in Loughborough concluding with the senior men’s race at 2:45pm.

Event timetable

11.00am: Under-20 men – 8km
11.30am: Under-13 boys – 3km
11.45am: Senior women – 10km
12.35pm: Under-15 boys – 4km
12.55pm: Under-17 women – 5km
1.15pm: Under-20 women – 6km
1.40pm: Under-13 girls – 3km
2.00pm: Under-17 men – 6km
2.20pm: Under-15 girls – 4km
2.45pm: Senior men – 10km

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Taking place for the first time on sparse grounds of Harewood House Estate outside Leeds, the 2019 edition of the Saucony English National Cross Country Championships proved to be a huge success.

Southampton’s Mahamed Mahamed and Aldershot’ Emily Hosker-Thornhill won the gold medals in senior races, while Leeds City enjoyed double success in the senior team events.

In the junior championships, Rory Leonard and Amelia Quirk produced superb performances to take the English National crowns, with Tonbridge and Herne Hill Harriers securing the team prizes.

JHM Sport captured some great moments on camera and you check the photographs out below.

RELATED: Emily Hosker-Thornhill and Mahamed Mahamed win English cross country gold

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The post In Pictures: English National cross country appeared first on Fast Running.

Southampton AC’s Mahamed Mahamed won an exhilarating sprint finish against Leed City’s Emile Cairess while Aldershot’s Emily Hosker-Thornhill was a clear winner in the senior women’s event at the English National Cross Country Championships on Saturday (February 23).

There was excellent racing across the board, from junior to senior levels, with over 8000 runners entered at the Harewood House Estate hosted championships.

This year’s championships was the 131st edition of the senior men’s event, while the senior women raced for the 86th time.

In the senior women’s race, AFD’s Emily Hosker-Thornhill was eleven seconds clear of Phillipa Woolven of Wycombe Phoenix Harriers and a further 30 seconds in front of Blackburn Harrier Jess Judd.

The Mick Woods coached athlete took 28:17 to cover the eight kilometre distance and builds on a solid cross country season so far with strong performances at Great Stirling Cross and the British Cross Challenge in Northern Ireland.

Pippa Woolven was coming off an excellent victory at the highly competitive Southern cross country championships and was likely the favourite on the startline, while Blackburn’s Judd had a host of impressive performances on road and cross country in recent months.

Sale Harriers’ Georgia Taylor-Brown was next across the finish line ahead of Aldershot’s Louise Small to complete the top five.

Claire Duck in sixth and Lucy Crookes in 10th place led Leeds City to the top team prize ahead of Aldershot and City of Norwich.

Despite getting some excellent sprint finish training against Patrick Dever at the BUCS cross country champs earlier this year, Emile Cairess didn’t have the answers when Mahamed Mahamed surged ahead to the finish line in the senior men’s championship race.

Photo: Pete Brown

The young Southampton AC runner excels on the country and has raced a couple of times overseas before this weekend and focused on some speed at the BUCS indoor 3000m champs.

His winning time was 36:34 for the 12 kilometre distance.

Leeds City’s Cairess has been in prolific form and posted wins at the Northern champs, as well as BUCS and the Yorkshire county championships.

It wasn’t to be on the day and the speedster will have to settle for another fine second position at the English showcase winter event.

Morpeth’s Carl Avery was third on the day, one place behind Cairess as he was at the Northern counties earlier in the year.

Ipswich Harriers’ John Millar finished fourth, while 2018 champion Adam Hickey completed the top five.

Cairess’ performance and Graham Rush in 10th place led Leeds City to team gold ahead of 2018 champions Tonbridge, with Bristol & West securing bronze.

Senior men’s 12km results

1) Mahamed Mahamed, Southampton, 36:34
2) Emile Cairess, Leeds City, 36:35
3) Carl Avery, Morpeth Harriers, 37:04
4) John Millar, Ipswich Harriers, 37:12
5) Adam Hickey, Southend On Sea, 37:15
6) Jack Gray, Cambridge & Coleridge, 37:31
7) Alexander Brecker, City of Stoke, 37:34
8) Omer Ahmed, Birchfield Harriers, 37:36
9) Joe Steward, East Cheshire Harriers & Tameside, 37:38
10) Graham Rush, Leeds City, 37:43

Senior women’s 8km results

1) Emily Hosker-Thornhill, Aldershot Farnham & District, 28:17
2) Philippa Woolven, Wycombe Phoenix Harriers, 28:28
3) Jess Judd, Blackburn Harriers, 28:52
4) Georgia Taylor-Brown, Sale Harriers Manchester, 28:55
5) Louise Small, Aldershot Farnham & District, 28:58
6) Claire Duck, Leeds City, 29:10
7) Naomi Taschimowitz, Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, 29:17
8) Katie Holt, City of Stoke, 29:27
9) Eleonor Davis, Preston Harriers, 29:30
10) Lucy Crookes, Leeds City, 29:38

Junior women and men

Photo: Pete Brown

Amelia Quirk continued a great start to 2019 with a win from Jessica Mitchell and Grace Brock. All three runners featured in the top six at the southern championships, where Quirk also came out on top.

Havering’s Mitchell went from sixth at the southern’s to overtaking Cornwall’s youngster Brock for second.

Herne Hill Harriers won a close team competition over Aldershot, while Basingstoke & Mid Hants took bronze.

Morpeth’s Rory Leonard followed on from victory at the Northern counties championships with a national title. The promising youngster also had an excellent outing at the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza at the start of January so his top notch win wasn’t unexpected.

Second place was Nathan Dunn of Preston Harriers and third went to Jeremy Dempsey of Shaftesbury and Barnet.

Photo: Pete Brown

Tonbridge AC won the team gold ahead of Cambridge & Coleridge, with Reading AC taking bronze.

Boys and Girls championships

Samuel Charlton was U17 champion at Harewood House, with the Wallsend Harriers & AC athlete taking the gold in 18:48, 11 seconds clear of AFD’s Will Barnicoat and Henry McLuckie of Shaftesbury & Barnet.

In the U17 women’s race, it was Olivia Grace Mason who finished just under 18 minutes for the 5km distance to take the gold medal. The Border Harrier beat India Pentland of Darlington Harriers & AC, as well as Charlotte Alexander of Herne Hill Harriers.

Vale Royal’s Holly Weedall took the honours ahead of early leader Kiya Dee of Highworth, who finished second, and third-placed Indienne King of Wreake & Soar Valley.

Wharf dale Harrier Alexander Thompson took the honours in the boy’s race, ahead of Louis Small of Ashford AC and Matthew Taylor of Tonbridge AC. The two southern athletes pipped to the post by the northern Wharfdale runner.

Scarlet Livingstone of Exeter Harriers was first across the line in the U13 girls event. Wolverhampton & Bilston’s Zoe Gilbody and Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies’ Abigail Reid was third.

Ben Peck, William Rabjohns and Alex Adams were the trio at the front of the boys race. Peck, of Thetford AC, was also south of England champion in January this year.

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The post Emily Hosker-Thornhill and Mahamed Mahamed win English cross country gold appeared first on Fast Running.

Callum Hawkins clocked 28:55 to finish second European runner and 19th overall at the 10k Valencia Ibercaja on Sunday (January 12).

The 26 year-old now boasts an official 10k road personal best under 29 minutes, improving on his time of 29:03 set in the Dutch village of Schoorl last year.

Hawkins has previously run quicker for 10k on the roads and posted splits of 28.28 and 28.27 en route to winning the 2017 Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon in 60:00.

After ending 2018 with a hamstring niggle ahead of the Fukuoka Marathon in Japan, his performance should instil a lot of confidence before racing over 13.1 miles and 26.2 miles later this year.

Jenny Nesbitt ran a PB of 33:10 to finish 11th and third European in the women’s race. The Welsh Commonwealth Games athlete, who won the renowned Nos Galen road race on New Year’s Eve, took 14 seconds from her previous best mark set at the Bourton 10k last year.

Tsehay Gemechu took 15 seconds off Tirunesh Dibaba’s Ethiopian record to win the women’s race in 30:15, while compatriot Chala Ketema won the men’s race in 27:23 with 10 men running 28 minutes or quicker.

Staying in Spain, there was a strong English cross country representation at the IAAF permitted Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza in Elgoibar. City of Stoke’s Kate Holt clocked 26:51 over the 6.6km course to finish a strong fifth and first European in the senior women’s race.

World 5000m champion Hellen Obiri won the race in 24:39, while Lily Partridge finished sixth in 27:05 ahead of Ireland’s Sara Treacy and Marshall Milton Keynes’s Rachel Robinson.

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Cross Country hurts. 6th today. Running on soft ground is absolutely a skill that I have massively taken for granted in the past but I'll have another go next week. Thanks to @crosselgoibar for another cool event. Some cool videos on my Twitter… I will try get them uploaded onto here. . …@crossitalica is the next stop . . . #RunnersOfInstagram #FurtherFasterStronger #RunningMotivation #Marathon #MarathonTraining #SeenOnMyRun #TrailRunning #InstaRunners #CrossCountry #Instarunners #LoveRunning #RunnerLife #RunningCommunity #RunningShoes #RunItFast @sara_treacy @englandathletics

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Outside of the top 10, three seconds separated Tonbridge’s Nicole Taylor and Shaftesbury Barnet’s Naomi Taschimowitz, with the pair finishing 13th and 14th respectively.

In the senior men’s 10.7km race, Southampton’s Mahamed Mahamed clocked 33:58 to finished 12th, while Ipswich’s Jack Millar was also in the top 15 finishing in 14th place.

World under-20 10,000m champion Rhonex Kipruto of Kenya won the men’s race in 32:05, finishing 22 seconds ahead of defending champion and under-20 5000m record-holder Selemon Barega of Ethiopia.

Further down the field, Southend’s Adam Hickey and Tonbridge’s Corey De’Ath finished 24th and 31st respectively.

England dominated the under-20 races, with Zakariya Mahamed and Euan Brennan first and second, while Amelia Samuels and Holly Page also took the top two spots in the women’s race.

Rory Leonard finished fifth in the under-20 men’s race with Joshua Cowperthwaite 14th. In the women’s event, Shannon Flockhart finished fourth and Olivia Mason was 10th across the finish line.

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

Various cross country league fixtures took place over the weekend, and among the individual winners were Blackburn Harriers’ Jess Judd and Border Harriers’ James Douglas at the Mid Lancs League Cross Country in Burnley on Saturday (January 12).

In the Metropolitan League at Wormwood Scrubs, Luton’s 800m specialist Revee Walcott-Nolan had a 29 second victory over Serpentine’s Isabel Clark in the senior women’s 6k race, while Highgate Harriers’ Roger Poolman was first across the line in senior men’s 8k event.

Also on Saturday, there were individual wins for Trafford AC’s Vicki Cronin and East Cheshire Harriers’ Joe Steward at the Manchester Area Cross Country League fixture.

Newark AC Chloe Hubbard and Peterborough’s Ben Heron won the senior races at the North Midlands Cross Country League at Wollaton Hall Nottingham, while Bedford and County’s Matt Bergin and MK Distance Project’s Dani Chattenton won at the Chiltern League in Keysoe.

At the Leeds Varsity Cross Country – an inter-university sports competition between the University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University – Alex Yee won the men’s race ahead of Emile Cairess to secure the first point of the year for Leeds Beckett.

Congratulations to @leedsbeckett men’s team taking the first point of the year in @LeedsVarsity19! Alex Yee also took the individual win. pic.twitter.com/Cu4YeF4cRb

— LBU Athletics (@LBUAthletics) January 12, 2019

On the roads, Winchester & District’s George King and Southampton’s Jen Elkins claimed the victories at the Stubbington Green 10k. King won the men’s race by seven seconds clocking 31:40, while Elkins won the women’s race by over 30 seconds in a time of 35:29.

Birtley AC’s Adrian Bailes and City of Hull’s Becky Briggs won the titles at the Brass Monkey Half Marathon in York on Sunday.

Bailes clocked 69:44 for the win ahead of Bury AC’s Benjamin Coop, while junior athlete Briggs posted a time of 74:57 to win the women’s race on her half marathon debut.

Going indoors, Jemma Reekie ran an indoor 800m PB at the FPSG Athletics Scottish National Open in Glasgow on Saturday. Reekie clocked 2:03.06 at the event and is now fifth on the Scottish indoor all-time rankings.

At the same event, Sol Sweeney recorded 3:45.04 over 1500m, and Eilidh Doyle clocked 53.38 in her first 400m of the year.

There were 1500m wins for Wallsend Harriers’ Danielle Hodgkinson and Hallamshire Harriers’ James McCrae at the North of England Indoor Championships over the weekend.

Hodgkinson won the senior women’s title in 4:27.83 and also clinched the 3000m crown after a 9:32.41 run. McCrae claimed the men’s 1500m title in 3:59.79 ahead of  Sheffield & Dearne’s James Gormley.

Amber Valley & Erewash’s Tamsin McGraw won the senior women’s 800m title in 2:10.46, with the men’s honours going to Crook’s Markhim Lonsdale after a 1:54.74 performance.

The men’s 3000m race saw Tonbridge AC’s Dominic Brown first across the line in 8:19.49 ahead of  Sheffield & Dearne’s Lewis Jagger in 8:20.56 and Bolton United Harriers’ Jonothan Kay in 8:20.93. Full results can be found here.

Meanwhile, on Friday (January 11), Eilish McColgan clocked a PB of 31:51 to win the Ooredoo Doha 10k. For the last three years, the 28 year-old has clocked a new best at the Doha road race, posting times of 31:56 and 31:53 in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

The Dundee Hawkill athlete moves two second’s closer to her mum Liz’s national record of 30:39. More about the GB international’s performance can be found here.

At the Great Stirling XCountry on Saturday, Laura Muir anchored GB’s mixed relay team to victory over Europe and the USA after first-class early legs by Alex Bell, Phillip Sesemann and Jamie Williamson.

In the women’s race, Charlotte Arter delivered a gutsy performance to set the pace before losing out to Europe’s Elena Burkard in the closing stages. A full report from Stirling can be found here.

At parkrun events across the UK on Saturday, the quickest times were run by Elsey Wyman-Davis and Jonathan Hopkins.

Wyman-Davis recorded a time of 16:55 at the Preston parkrun, while Hopkins clocked 14:44 at the Cardiff event. The top 10 times from UK parkruns can be found here.

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The post Callum Hawkins and Jenny Nesbitt impress in Valencia – weekend round-up appeared first on Fast Running.

Having claimed more medals than any other nation in the last 12 years, the 40-strong GB team will hope to add to the nation’s rich history at the 25th edition of the European Cross Country Championships in Tilburg on Sunday (December 9).

At last year’s event in Samorin, Slovakia, Andy Butchart won a well earned individual bronze in the senior men’s race, while Harriet Knowles-Jones delivered a golden performance in the under-20 women’s showpiece.

There was also team gold for GB’s impressive female athletes in the senior, under-23 and under-20 races, while the mixed male and female quartet won the inaugural relay event.

Overall, GB topped the medal table 12 months ago, earning five gold medals and nine in total. With this year’s competition in the Dutch city set to be the biggest to date – with over 600 athletes from 38 countries – the team will have to be at their best to match the success achieved last year.

There are notable absences in this year’s senior men’s team. Andy Butchart will not return to the championships on Sunday, while Andy Vernon, who has won 12 Euro Cross medals in his 10 team appearances, is a late withdrawal due to injury, after being named in the original team selection. Additionally, none of the 2017 gold medal winning senior women’s team feature, giving new and returning faces an opportunity to star.

Ross Millington won the trials in Liverpool last month, and, with a team gold in 2016 and team bronze in 2014 to his name, heads the men’s team, along with experienced cross country competitors Dewi Griffiths and Charlie Hulson.

Photo: Andy Peat

British 5000m champion Marc Scott, who has impressed on the track and roads this year, will aim to transfer his undoubted talent to the cross country, while Sunday is the perfect opportunity for Nick Goolab and late addition Kris Jones to shine.

Turkey’s team, which features a number of Kenyan born athletes, are the defending champions and will once again be the side to beat.

One of Britain’s most successful cross country athletes Kate Avery, who has won seven Euro Cross medals, including two individual silvers, returns to the continent’s big stage after injuries in recent years.

Photo: Paul Stillman

Like Avery, GB’s senior women’s team includes a number of other athletes who have overcome adversity, and regardless of their performance on Sunday, making the start line is a commendable achievement.

For most of 2018, Charlotte Arter has been the in-form British distance athlete, winning the British 10,000m Championships at the Night of 10,000m PBs in May, before injury ruled her out of this summer’s European Championships in Berlin.

The Welsh athlete, who won team silver in 2016, bounced back to win the trials in Liverpool, finishing ahead of Verity Ockenden, herself only back racing after a bike accident that put her out of action from March until October.

Two time Euro Cross medalist, Jess Piasecki competes on the big stage for the first time since 2012. Piasecki made her comeback to racing over the summer with wins on the roads at the Podium 5k and the Trafford 10k before competing in her first cross country race in five years at the Milton Keynes Cross Challenge, where she finished runner up. The Stockport athlete then secured her place on the GB team with a third place finish at the trials.

Melissa Courtney, who was part of the gold medal winning mixed relay team in 2017, finished fourth at the trials, and, along with Pippa Woolven, completes the team.

In an interview this week with Fast Running, Ockenden acknowledged her Tilburg team mates have all fought their own battles to make the team, and said: “Many members of the team are blazing inspirational comeback trails themselves! Therefore I’d imagine I’m not the only one who will be cherishing this opportunity all the more because of the journey it’s been to arrive here.”

RELATED: Verity Ockenden is back stronger than ever

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 complete the team.

Under-23 and Under-20 teams

The GB under-23 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.

Photo: Andy Peat

In the under-23 men’s team, Patrick Dever will be aiming for a third straight team medal at the championships, while Emile Cairess, John Millar, Paulos Surafel and Oliver Fox make their first under-23 appearances.

France’s Jimmy Gressier is the star name in the race and returns to defend his title.

Griffiths was the first under-23 woman at the trials and joining her in the GB team is Lydia Turner, who earns a first Euro Cross vest since 2014, when she claimed an individual bronze and a team gold medal in Samakov, Bulgaria.

Dani Chattenton, Abbie Donnelly, Emily Moyes and Poppy Tank complete the under-23 women’s team.

Welsh duo and trial winners Jake Heyward and Cari Hughes head the GB under-20 teams.

In the men’s race, Heyward will go head to head with Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who is going for a third consecutive gold medal. Heyward and Ingebrigtsen faced off over 1500m at the World U20 Championships in Tampere over the summer, with the Norwegian star taking gold and the young Welsh athlete fourth.

Matt Willis also returns to the under-20 event for GB, along with Rory Leonard, Isaac Akers, Jack Meijer and Tom Mortimer.

In the women’s under-20 race, Hughes finished ninth last year and is joined by fellow team gold medalist Khahisa Mhlanga.

Photo: Paul Stillman

Amelia Quirk, who won team gold in Chia in 2016, earns her place after finishing second at the trials. Completing the team are debutants Tiffany Penfold, Grace Brock and Anna MacFadyen.

Ireland’s Sarah Healy, who won European U18 1500m and 3000m gold over the summer, makes her championship debut in the U20 race and will be the one to watch.

Everything you need to know

The race timetable for the European Cross Country Championships, plus a preview of the course and Sunday’s TV guide can be found here.

RELATED: Euro Cross: Who, what and when?

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The post Strong GB team ready to star at European Cross Country Championships 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.

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.

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 post Runners set to open cross country season in Cardiff appeared first on Fast Running.