Kenyan Cherono will represent Kenya at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and won both Boston and Chicago marathon’s in 2019 and has a fantastic winning record over the 26.2 distance.

Ethiopian Bekele needs no introduction and is widely considered the greatest distance runner of all time. Whilst that can be argued he is certainly a favourite amongst running purists, a three time Olympic gold medalist and multiple World XC Champion. He narrowly missed out on a marathon world record last year running 2:01:41 at Berlin Marathon.

Kenenisa Bekele faces Eluid Kipchoge in the London Marathon and Cherono will be back to defend his Boston title earlier in April.

Brits battle for World Half vests

British Athletics will be looking to pick a team of five men and five women to race in the World Half Marathon Championships in Gdynia, Poland on 29th March.

The selection policy states that the first three eligible athletes at the Big Half will be offered automatic selection provided they have the required standard (they will have if they finish within the first three Brits!).

Head to head in women’s race before VLM

Many of the contenders pushing for Tokyo 2020 marathon vests will line up on Sunday. Despite the likes of Steph Twell, Jess Piasecki, Charlotte Arter and Charlotte Purdue being absent from the published line up we will get the see the current form of Lily Partridge, Steph Davis and Hayley Carruthers.

Partridge is the fastest athlete in the field on paper and has returned to some strong form after a 2019 hit by injury. Having recently moved to Birchfield Harriers Partridge finished 3rd at the recent EDP Medio Maratón de Sevilla in 71:31.

Hayley Carruthers is always a name to watch over the half marathon distance the Birchfield Harrier set a best of 71:03 at the Great North Run in September. We are excited to see the rapidly improving Samantha Harrison race. Having set a PB of 71:43 at the recently Barcelona Half Marathon she will be a strong contender for one of the automatic spots on the team.

Steph Davis will also attract a lot of attention after her stunning 2:27:40 marathon in Valencia. She will be looking to make a serious revision to her half marathon best of 72:57 and will so be amongst the overall favourites.

Eleanor Whyman-Davis is another of our ones to watch for the race with a best of 72:34 we feel she could be considered a real contender for the team. In a strong field of British women the likes of Clara Evans, Rebecca Murray, Jenny Spink and Dani Nimmock will ensure it will be a highly competitive team on the plane to Poland.

 

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Strong British men’s field

Both the men’s and women’s competition will be tight. For the men Ross Millington, Mo Aadan and Jake Smith will line up amongst the favourites and they can expect strong challenges from the experience of Chris Thompson, Derek Hawkins and Andy Vernon. Millington will be running his first half since the 2017 NYC Half and many will be interest to see what shape the talent Stockport man is in.

We expect that Fast10 members Ollie Lockley and Jack Gray will be in the mix after both had excellent half marathon performances at Valencia Half in October. Another athlete who has been in fine form over shorter distances is Adam Clarke, with a 10km best of 28:38 set in December his speed will make him a contender.

Sub 2:15 marathon men Josh Griffiths, Robbie Simpson and Charlie Hulson will be looking to capitalise on their endurance and excellent 2019 performances and it is great to see Dewi Griffiths returning to regular racing.

Paulos Surafel is gradually building experience over long distances and is an exciting talent for the future, and another athlete who will look t make a serious revision to his current PB.

Jake Smith on his way to a PB in Paris

Editors note: Elite fields as publicised on race website – there may be additions or withdrawals.

Full elite men’s field

Kenenisa Bekele Ethiopia – 60.09
Lawrence Cherono Kenya – 60.46
Chris Thompson Great Britain – 61.00
Dewi Griffiths Great Britain – 61.33
Jake Smith Great Britain – 62.02
Marius Kipserem Kenya – 62.20
Mohamud Aadan Great Britain – 62.30
Ross Millington Great Britain – 62.40
Andy Vernon Great Britain – 62.46
Ollie Lockley Great Britain – 63.01
Jack Gray Great Britain – 63.15
Josh Griffiths Great Britain – 64.33
Daniel Studley Great Britain – 63.58
Derek Hawkins Great Britain – 63.53
Robbie Simpson Great Britain – 64.27
Derek Rae (T46) Great Britain – 68.22
Adam Clarke Great Britain – 68.35
Paulos Surafel Great Britain – 64.12
Charlie Hulson Great Britain – 64.28

Full elite women’s field

Lily Partridge Great Britain – 70:31
Hayley Carruthers Great Britain – 71.03
Samantha Harrison Great Britain – 71.43
Eleanor Davis Great Britain – 72.34
Clara Evans Great Britain – 72.49
Stephanie Davis Great Britain – 72.57
Rebecca Murray Great Britain – 72.59
Jenny Spink Great Britain – 73.01
Dani Nimmock Great Britain – 74.13

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The post Cherono & Bekele race as Brits battle for World Half qualification appeared first on Fast Running.

The international stars were just two of thousands who turned out for their clubs at county cross country championships across the nation this weekend in a welcome boost for domestic athletics.

The Essex and Suffolk championships saw athletes of both genders taking on equal distances for the first time in their events’ history, with the senior men and women running 10k a piece. Until this weekend’s event the men had run 12k and the women 8k.

400 runners braved the cold temperatures in Writtle, Chelmsford for the Essex Cross Country Championships (January 5), with 2018’s English National Cross Country champion Adam Hickey and European Junior and U23 Cross Country gold medalist Jess Judd both emerging victorious.

Judd, running for Blackburn Harriers AC, comfortably led the ladies home to win in 35:56, over a minute ahead of her nearest rival Lauren Deadman of Havering AC in 37:03. Hannah Irwin finished third for Braintree & District in 37:45.

Southend AC’s Hickey kicked off his 2019 season with a narrow three second win in the men’s race in 32:22. He just held off club mate Thomas Frith, who ran 32:25, while Havering AC’s Grant Twist was third in 32:41.

Leeds City’s GB ace Claire Duck successfully retained the women’s title at the Yorkshire championships at North Stainley (January 5). Duck clocked 27:57 for the win ahead of Rotherham Harriers Nicola Devine in 28:31. In third place was Leeds City’s Georgia Malir in 28:43.

Photo: Adrian Royle

In the men’s race, Leeds City’s Emile Cairess also won back-to-back titles, crossing the line first in 32:15. Second was Notts AC’s Jonathan Thewlis in 32:35, with GB international triathlete Jonny Brownlee of Bingley third in 32:43.

Leeds City won the senior women’s team title ahead of Rotherham Harriers, while the men’s team title was a reverse with Rotherham coming out on top over Leeds.

Much further south, there were some appropriately speedy performances at the Kent championships at Brands Hatch (Jan 5).

Tonbridge’s in form Lucy Reid was another clear winner of the women’s 8k race in 29:42, ahead of Blackheath & Bromley’s Niamh Bridson-Hubbard (30:22) and Tonbridge’s young star, Kirandeep Marsh (31:34).

Benedict Cole won from club mates Max Nicholls and Jamie Bryant to make it a clean sweep of the podium positions for Tonbridge in the men’s 12k race. Cole ran 38:04 to Nicholls’ 38:20 and Bryant’s 38:40. Robbie Farnham-Rose was also fourth for the club in 38:52!

Staying in the south of the country, the Surrey championships saw wins for Guildford & Godalming’s John Sanderson and Epsom and Ewell Harriers’ Isabel Brinsden in their respective 12k and 8k races (January 5).

Sanderson just fought off stiff competition from AFD’s Jack Rowe, the two finishing in 38:03 and 38:05 respectively. Mole Valley’s Luke Caldwell could only manage third in 38:21, proving how fierce this race was!

The women’s race was even fiercer, with Brindsen and Highgate Harriers’ Molly Renfer given exactly the same time for first and second, 29:16. AFD’s Laura Gent took third in 29:24.

There was another Tonbridge win at the Sussex championships at Bexhill for the club’s Nicole Taylor, who won the women’s 6.4k race by more than a minute in 23:48 (January 5). Worthing’s Leah Harris took second place in 24:47, while Brighton Phoenix’s Almi Nerurkar was a fine third in 25:05. If that name sounds familiar it is because Almi is the daughter of 2:08 marathoner, Richard Nerurkar!

Ultra running sensation Tom Evans took the men’s title for Lewes, completing the 12k course in 37:49. Evans was well ahead of Brighton Phoenix’s Ross Skelton’s 39:05, while Lewes’s Ben Savill took third just two seconds behind in 39:07.

Further north saw wins for Bedford’s Tabatha Walford and Birchfield Harriers’ Jonathan Goringe in the Northamptonshire championships at Abthorpe (January 5).

Walford covered the women’s 6k course in 22:12, with MK Distance Project’s Claudia Kelsall taking second place in 22:27. Corby’s impressive talent, Rebecca Hall, was a fine third in 22:47, despite battling long term health issues.

Goringe took the men’s 10k title in 31:35, ahead of Rugby & Northampton’s Josh Lay and Dominic Jones, who ran 31:59 and 32:01 respectively.

Over at the Warwickshire and Worcestershire championships at Stretton-Under-Fosse, Bournville’s Nicola Sykes proved her incredible consistency to win the women’s 6k event in 20:42 (January 5). Sykes fought off Nuneaton’s Polly Keen and Birmingham Running ATC’s Molly Browne, who were second and third in 21:02 and 21:10 respectively.

AFD’s Ellis Cross took the men’s 10k title in 31:37, holding off Birchfield Harriers’ Omar Ahmed and Will Richardson, who finished less than 18 seconds behind. Ahmed ran 31:41 for second, while Richardson crossed the line in 31:55.

Stafford Common hosted the Staffordshire championships (January 5) which saw convincing wins for City of Stoke’s Alex Brecker and Kate Holt.

Brecker won the men’s race in a speedy 27:41, although we couldn’t qualify how long each race was. Wolverhampton & Bilston’s Jon Morris was a distant second in 28:50 while City of Stoke had another medal winner in David Sheldon, who was third in 29:11.

Holt was a superb winner of the women’s race in 18:37, well over a minute ahead of Newcastle’s Rebecca Twardochleb, who ran 19:43 for second. Cannock & Stafford’s Giorgia Chattwood was third lady in 19:59.

London Heathside’s Rebecca Piggott just took the women’s 8k title at the Middlesex championships (January 5) at Greenford, winning from Harrow’s Eilish O’Grady and Highgate’s Yasmin Goater, who ran 30:22 and 30:40 respectively. Could Yasmin be the daughter of esteemed former GB distance running legend, Julian Goater? Answers on a postcard!

In the men’s 12k race, Shaftesbury Barnet’s Phillip Crout was victorious in 38:18 from Highgate’s Alex Lepretre, holding off his rival by just two seconds. Serpentine’s fast improving athlete, Chris Wright, took the third spot not far back in 38:34.

Over at St Helens, the Merseyside championships (January 5) saw wins for veteran ace Kirsty Longley from Liverpool Pembroke Sefton and Liverpool Harriers’ Dejene Gezimu.

Gezimu won the men’s race by nearly 200 metres when he clocked 38:18, with Sale Harriers’ Phil Robertson claiming second place in 38:55. St Helens Sutton’s Thomas Griffiths was a distant third in 39:47, but well ahead of his nearest rival.

Longley also won her race by some margin, clocking 29:36 to Wirral AC’s Emily Kearney’s 30:05. Liverpool Harriers’ Rachael Burns ran a fine 30:32 for third.

It was business as usual in the women’s 8.4k race at the Hampshire championships at Curdridge (January 5) when AFD and GB star Louise Small took the title in 29:48, nearly 40 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. Club mate Lauren Hall was second in 30:25, while Southampton’s Laura Brenton took third in 30:58.

Hampshire Cross Country Champ – 4 in a row Always enjoy running for @AFDACofficial #timetofly #hokaoneone #crosscountry pic.twitter.com/FUb97QbyZm

— Louise Small (@LoulouSmall) January 5, 2019

AFD’s Phillip Sewell kept the trophies in the club cabinet when he won the men’s 12k race in 39:16, ahead of Serpentine’s Andy Greenleaf’s 39:37 and Southampton’s Jamie Knapp’s 39:52.

The Gloucestershire championships at Rendcomb (Jan 5) saw wins for Bristol & West’s Zoe Wassell and Cheltenham’s Dan Owen, Cheltenham filling half of the top ten positions to boot.

Owen completed the 10k course in 34:38, ahead of club mates Jacob Pickering (34:55) and Douglas Wight (35:05). 

Wassell took the women’s 6.5k title in 25:27, with Cheltenham athletes taking the next four positions here two! Rachel Underhill was second in 26:57 while Naomi Eaton took third in 27:06.

Over at Warrington there was fine racing at the Cheshire championships (January 5). Woodford Green & Essex Ladies’ Edward Shepherd won the men’s 10.4k race in34:08, with Sale’s Nigel Martin second in 34:28. Liverpool Harriers’ Dan Cliffe took third in 34:52.

Helsby’s Hannah Cowley just won the women’s 8.3k race in 32:25 from Vale Royal’s Sarah Murphy (32:31) and Liz Renondeau (32:41).

Hughenden Park saw some fierce battles at the Buckinghamshire championships (Jan 5), with Cheltenham again featuring in the men’s race. The club’s Alex Bampton was the men’s 12k victor in 40:00 ahead of Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow’s Alex Goodall (40:16) and MK Distance Project’s George Wheeler (40:37).

Marshall Milton Keynes’ Elle Roche was the women’s winner in the 8k race in 31:23, with Belgrave’s ultra running ace Sam Amend second in 32:13. Vale of Aylesbury’s Alice Wright was third in 32:34.

Sale Harriers’s Katie Hellison took the women’s win at the Lancashire championships at Blackburn (Jan 5), crossing the line in 23:17. Manx Harriers’ Rachael Franklin made the long trip worthwhile when she finished second in 23:36, while Salford’s Carla Davies was third in 23:45.

Preston Harriers’ Daniel Bebbington just held club mate Nathan Dunn for victory in the men’s race, winning by just three seconds in 30:35. Wesham’s Rob Danson was third in 31:02. 

Bristol and West’s Owain Jones (County: Avon) and Cornwall AC’s Heidi Tregenza (Cornwall) won the senior races at the South West Club & County Cross Country Championships at Aldon Hill, Yeovil.

Jones clocked 29.38 to finish ahead of Cheltenham and County Harriers’ Philip Wylie and Newquay & Par AC’s Finn Birnie (Cornwall) in the senior men’s race.

In the senior women’s race, Tregenza won in 20:03, while Wimborne AC’s Grace Copeland (Dorset) was second and Wells City Harriers’ Elise Thorner (Somerset) third.

Bristol & West AC claimed both the senior men’s and women’s club team titles, while Avon won the men’s team county crown and Devon secured the women’s county team title.

The Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire championships took place at Wollaton Park (January 5).

In the Derbyshire championships, it was a welcome return to the country for Leigh Harriers’ Lauren Howarth in the women’s 8k race. Howarth won in 23:34, with Derby AC’s Veleska Wills second in 25:57. Ribble Valley’s Helen Thornhill took third in 26:08.

Derby’s Alex Pilcher took victory in the men’s 10k race in 29:26, just ahead of Chesterfield & District’s Alex Ediker’s 29:33. Two seconds back was Pudsey & Bramley’s Harry Holmes, who ran 29:35 for third.

Buxton AC’s won the Derbyshire women’s team title, while the men’s team honours went to Heanor RC.

Also at Wollaton Park, Notts AC Doug Musson won the senior men’s Nottinghamshire title in 28:49. Musson finished ahead of Mansfield Harriers & AC’s Alex Rieley in 29:54 and Notts AC’s Milan Campion in 30:47.

In the senior women’s race, Notts AC’s Samantha Harrison came out on top in 26:04 finishing ahead of Worksop Harriers & AC Sarah Worley 27:10. Sutton-in-Ashfield Harriers & AC’s Molly Johnson completed the top three in 27:40.

Notts AC won both the men and women’s senior team titles.

Results for County championships which were not available at the time of publishing will be added once they are released.

Away from the mud and in the warmth of the indoor track, there were top 3000m and 5000m performances from Scotland’s elite athletes at the GAA Miler Meet at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena.

Photo: Bobby Gavin

The meeting incorporates the Scottish Championships 3000m, and saw the top three male athletes break 7:58. The race was won by Glasgow University’s Sol Sweeney in 7:56.78, with Inverclyde AC’s Adam Craig close behind in second (7.57.66) and Leeds’ Philip Sesseman running 7.57.84 for third.

Sweeney and Craig are now ninth and 10th on the Scottish all-time list for 3000m indoors.

Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie were also in fine form in the 5000m and 3000m respecively, with Muir taking the 5k win in a superb 14:52.02, her second fastest ever indoors.

Reekie won the Scottish 3000m title in an indoor PB of 9:16.48.

Staying indoors, Joseph Reid and Jamie Webb won over 800m and 1500m at the opening BMC Grand Prix in Sheffield on Sunday (January 6).

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Action from the men's 1500m and the women's 800m at the Sheffield GP today 6.1.19. Brilliant victories for @jamiewebb800 3:43.59, ahead of Jonny Hay and @tamsinmcgraw 2:13.02 – both winners earning England selection. More pics to follow. Thanks to @englandathletics for hosting us, and as always to the pacers for making it happen. Photos : Photos @thatsagoodoneofme

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Cardiff’s Reid won the 800m race in an indoor PB of 1:50.29 finishing ahead of City of York’s Alex Botterill, Brighton Phoenix duo George Mills and Finley Bigg, and Tonbridge’s Sean Molloy.

Liverpool’s Webb impressed over 1500m clocking a PB of 3:43.59 to take the win. AFD’s Jonathan Hay was second in 3:45.64 and Tonbridge’s Kieran Reilly third in 3:46.10.

Further afield in Italy, there were top runs by Ross Millington and Daniel Hallam to finish 7th and 19th at the Campaccio Cross Country. Hagos Gebrhiwet and Yasemin Can took the overall wins.

Meanwhile, a week after Alex Yee ran the second fastest ever men’s time at parkrun, Welsh and British international Charlotte Arter ran a superb 15:50 to break the women’s parkrun record on Saturday (January 5).

More about Arter’s performance and round-up of the weekend’s top runs at parkrun can be found here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo: Andy Peat

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo: Paul Stillman

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

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

British team selected for the European Cross Country Championships

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RELATED: Charlotte Arter and Ross Millington win Liverpool Cross Challenge

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Aldershot, Farnham & District’s women defended their title and Stockport Harriers took the men’s equivalent at the ERRA National Road Relays at a wet and windy Sutton Park on Saturday.

The quartet of Emily Hosker-Thornhill, Laura Gent, Amy Griffiths and Louise Small combined to give AFD a clear victory, their 11th in 12 years in this event, in 57 minutes 56 seconds. Leeds City AC placed second in 59:29, 27 seconds ahead of third-placed Tonbridge.

Hosker-Thornhill gave AFD the lead after the first of the 4.33km legs, coming home in 13:58, which was to remain unofficially the fastest overall of the race. Leeds’ Steve Stockton handed over 19 seconds later, but it was her team-mate Lucy Crookes who took over at the front by the halfway mark by just three seconds.

However, Griffiths put the champions back in front and stretched out a lead of 50 seconds before Small’s anchor leg made sure of the win.

Jessica Judd of Blackburn Harriers and Lauren Howarth of Leigh Harriers unofficially put in the second and third fastest legs overall with 14:07 and 14:12 respectively.

Photo: Stephen Lee

The men’s race was much closer and more changeable before Stockport took the tape in 1:45:07, 25 seconds ahead of runner-up Leeds City with AFD in third another eight seconds back.

Liverpool Harriers led after the first leg through Jonny Mellor’s 17:08 for the 5.848km leg, which was unofficially the second quickest of the race. Callum Johnson then took over at the front for Gateshead Harriers, a second in front of Cambridge & Coleridge’s Jack Gray.

Gateshead then dropped behind as C&C’s European under-18 3000m champion Thomas Keen and Lincoln Wellington’s Aaron Scott battled it out at the front before the former handed on around a second to the good.

It was still very close at the end of leg four as Lloyd Kempson ended the stage narrowly ahead of Lincoln’s James Straw. Meanwhile, just behind were Stockport, who had been led off by Jack Morris, Andrew Davies and Steve Vernon and, through Patrick Martin, were by then well in the mix.

Jack Martin then put Stockport in front, but Leeds were in contention in second as AFD were third. With Rio Olympic 10,000m runner Ross Millington on the final leg, Stockport were favourites and running unofficially the fastest leg of the day of 16:54, he did not disappoint.

Photo: Stephen Lee

The young athletes’ titles had earlier went to six different teams. Charnwood (under-17), AFD (under-15) and C&C (under-13) won the boys’ races.

City of Norwich (under-17), Vale Royal (under-15) and Tonbridge (under-13) took the wins in the girls’ races.

Published results (https://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2018/) were provisional as this report was filed and were known to contain inaccurate split times. Keen’s time was around 17:50 – not the 16:50 given as the quickest overall.

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The post Aldershot and Stockport win National Road Relays appeared first on Fast Running.

Kenyan runner Kipruto Rhonex triumphed with a time of 26:46 at the Birell Prague Grand Prix on Saturday (September 8).

The 18 year-old’s winning time is only two seconds off the world record of 26:44 set by compatriot Leonard Komom in 2010.

Running alone with the other elite rapidly dropping back, Kipruto went through 5km in 13:31 and rarely looking back ran a negative split of 13:15 to slash his personal best by 22 seconds.

Second placer Geoffrey Koech came in 32 seconds behind Kipruto with 27:18 and Mathew Kimeli third with 27:26. In all, eleven runners crossed the finish line in under 28 minutes.

Earlier this year, Rhonex clocked 27:08 at the UAE Healthy Kidney 10k in Central Park, New York, which was the fastest 10k ever on a record-eligible course on American soil.

The Kenyan youngster followed that performance up winning gold in the 10,000m at the World Under-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland in August.

The fastest woman at the Birell Prague Grand Prix was fellow Kenyan Caroline Kipkirui, who clocked 30:19 as the first three finishers completed the course with just four seconds between them.

It is the third fastest women’s time in history, behind world record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei, who clocked 29:43 at the Prague race last year, while Fancy Chemutai holds the number two spot with 30:06.

After running side by side throughout the race, the leading trio of Kipkirui, Chemutai, and Diana Chemtai Kipyokei broke into the final sprint just a few hundred metres out, with Kipkirui winning the dash only metres ahead of her rivals. Chemutai clocked 30:22, while Kipyokei completed the podium in 30:23.

Meanwhile, in the men’s race, Ross Millington finished 16th in a personal best 28:40, which is the third fastest time by a British athlete this year. Luke Traynor, the second fastest GB athlete in 2018, crossed the line in 18th running 29:22.

In the women’s race, fellow British runner Emelia Gorecka ran 33:41 to finish 10th on her road 10k debut.

Men
1. Kipruto Rhonex | KEN | 00:26:46
2. Koech Geoffrey | KEN | 00:27:18
3. Kimeli Mathew | KEN | 00:27:26
4. Kipyatich Abraham | KEN | 00:27:38
5. Lagat Benard Kibet | KEN | 00:27:40
6. Kwemoi Peter | KEN | 00:27:44
7. Amghar Hicham | MAR | 00:27:46
8. Kimeli Benard | KEN | 00:27:50
9. Belihu Berta | ETH | 00:27:54
10. Kipkoech Vedic | KEN | 00:27:57

Women
1. C. Kipkirui Caroline | KEN | 00:30:19
2. Chemutai Fancy | KEN | 00:30:22
3. Kipyokei Diana Chemtai | KEN | 00:30:23
4. Tuitoek Dorcas Jepchirchir | KEN | 00:31:17
5. Nenkampi Perine | KEN | 00:31:25
6. Wanjiru Rosemary M. | KEN | 00:31:34
7. Chemnung Loice | KEN | 00:31:50
8. Van Der Wielen-Lahti Sarah | SWE | 00:32:23
9. Takashima Yuka | JAP | 00:32:26
10. Gorecka Emelia | GBR | 00:33:41

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The post 18 year-old only two seconds off 10k world record in Prague appeared first on Fast Running.

Jake Robertson was just nine seconds off his personal best as he claimed victory at the 21st edition of the Beach to Beacon 10k road race in Cape Elizabeth, Maine on Saturday (August 4).

The race was founded by American great Joan Benoit Samuelson, a native of Cape Elizabeth, who won the first-ever women’s marathon at the 1984 Olympics.

Robertson, who earlier this year broke the New Zealander marathon record on his debut over 26.2 miles, took the win at the popular US road race in 27:37, finishing 50 seconds ahead of Stephen Sambu of Kenya.

The 28 year-old memorably clocked 27:28 at the Crescent City Classic 10k in late March to equal the New Zealand record held by his twin brother Zane Robertson.

American Ben True completed the men’s podium in 28:29, while Shadrack Kipchirchir finished fourth.

Callum Hawkins continued on the road of putting the Commonwealth Games marathon behind him with a strong performance to finish seventh in 29:16. It was the 26 year-old’s second race since Gold Coast 2018, with his only other outing a 31:27 run at the London 10,000 in May.

A solid 29.16 and 7th overall for Callum Hawkins (@callhawk) at the @Beach2Beacon10K in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, this morning. #tdb2b10k #usa #NewBalance

— Moyo Sports (@Moyo_Sports) August 4, 2018

Fellow British athlete Ross Millington made a welcome return to racing to finish ninth in 29:32. It was the Stockport and Team New Balance Manchester runner’s first race since March after injury setbacks.

Kenya’s Sandrafelis Chebet Tuei won the women’s race in 31:21. The 20 year-old finished five seconds ahead of Ababel Yeshaneh of Ethiopia (31:26).

American 10,000m record holder Molly Huddle clocked 31:31 to complete the top three women in Maine.

RELATED: Jake Robertson equals twin brother’s New Zealand 10k record

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