"nothing is insurmountable" - Stewart starts the GB post-mortem
Twell - was 'flat' in Jordan
Putting one or two strong runs from the junior women aside, the UK’s showing at Amman this weekend was not great. Steph Twell was being heralded by all, even the organsiers saw her as a prospect, at the IAAF VIP press call.
However, it just wasn’t to be for the Aldershot runner, and it will need to be a process of learnt-lessons if Britain’s endurance athletes are to challenge on the World XC stage in years to come.
Head of Endurance at UKA Ian Stewart is philosophical in this Guardian article
Ian Stewart, UK Athletics’ head of endurance, will turn to the track in an attempt to bring back success and respectability to Britain’s challenge at the World Cross-Country Championships
Stewart - The savior of endurance running in the UK?
…and he is right in many ways.
In races such as this (which let’s face it was a hilly track race) basic speed is everything. Endurance helps, and that can be gained from strong mileage, however if you don’t have the speed to live with the early pace, that inevitably comes in these championship races, you are history – as the pace only gets faster!
Perhaps it is time for the UK and other countries to assess where they are with regards to this event. Should it be horses for courses? If the race is in a hot country, on a hard-pack, fast course, should the selection criteria change? One thing is for sure, this won’t be the last word on the great World XC debate!
