Ireland’s Fionnuala McCormack is among the athletes named in the European team for the Great Edinburgh XCountry on January 13.
Joining McCormack, a winner in Edinburgh in 2012 and 2013, are Turkey’s European champions Kaan Kigen Ozbilen and Yasemin Can.
Can, who successfully retained her European Cross Country title on Sunday in Samorin, won the senior women’s race last January in Edinburgh.
McCormack, also a two-time European champion, made a record 15th appearance at the championships in the Slovakian town – finishing 12th and exactly one minute behind the winner.
Also selected for the meeting that sees Great Britain, USA and Europe battle in four races; the senior men’s 8km, senior women’s 6km, men’s U20 6km and women’s U20 4km, are European U23 winner Jimmy Gressier of France and Norway’s two-time U20 gold medallist Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
The overall winning team will be determined by the best aggregate finishing positions of the six best-placed athletes in the senior category, as well as the four best-placed athletes in the junior races.
As the host nation of the event, British athletes were not considered for Team Europe selection.
Also, following the success of the inaugural mixed relay at the European Cross Country Championships, the Great Edinburgh XCountry will also have a mixed relay event and the European Team comprises of all Spanish athletes.
Senior men
Polat Kemboi Arikan (TUR), Soufiane Bouchikhi (BEL), Hassan Chahdi (FRA), Jimmy Gressier (FRA), Hugo Hay (FRA), Aras Kaya (TUR), Daniel Mateo (ESP), Adel Mechaal (ESP) and Kaan Kigen Ozbilan (TUR) – Reserve: Emmanuel Rudolff Lévisse (FRA)
Senior women
Fionnuala MCormack (IRL), Yasemin Can (TUR), Meraf Bahta (SWE), Roxana Barca (ROU), Ancuta Bobocel (ROU), Isabelle Brauer (SWE), Elena Burkard (GER), Nuria Lugueros (ESP) and Cristina Simion (ROU)
U20 men
Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR), Luca Alfieri (ITA), Adrian Garcea (ROU), Mario Garcia (ESP), Simen Halle Haugen (NOR) and Annasse Mahboub (ESP) – Reserve: Ouassim Oumaiz (ESP)
U20 women
Nadia Battocletti (ITA), Roos Blokhuis (NED), Carla Gallardo (ESP), Jasmijn Lau (NED), Cristina Ruiz (ESP) and Delia Sclabas (SUI) – Reserves: Emine Akbingol (TUR) and Mariana Machado (POR)
Mixed relay
Jesus Gomez (ESP), Esther Guerrero (ESP), Solange Pereira (ESP) and Victor Ruiz (ESP)
The USA team can be found below.
Senior men
Emmanuel Bor, Chris Derrick, Trevor Dunbar, Garrett Heath, Leonard Korir, Ian La Mere, Ryan Mahalsky, Morgan Pearson and Abbabiya Simbassa.
Senior women
Chelsea Blaase, Anne-Marie Blaney, Desiree Linden, Rosa Moriello, Olivia Pratt, Natosha Rogers, Molly Seidel, Makenna Smith and Katrina Spratford.
U20 men
Drew Bosley, Dustin Horter, Dylan Jacobs, Danny Kilrea, Clayton Mendez and Graydon Morris.
U20 women
Kelsey Chmiel, Maggie Farrell, Katelynne Hart, Claudia Lane, Cailie Logue and Emily Venters.
Mixed relay
Will Geoghegan, Travis Mahoney, Ayla Granados and Rebecca Mehra.