UK's best turn their sights to Jordan
Wollaton - once of the most scenic starts in XC
After the National, after all of the talk on MST, it’s time for the UK to decide who will represent them at the 37th IAAF World Cross Country Champs. This weekend’s Inter Counties XC champs will act as the selection race.
The racing takes place in the beautiful surroundings of Wollaton Park, in over 500 acres of historic deer park. The park is home to Wollaton Hall, a spectacular Tudor building which has recently undergone a £9 million programme of restoration. However, the top contenders for places in Amman will have no time for sight-seeing.
Wollaton Hall
The men’s race will be fast and furious, with Frank Tickner starting as favourite after his convincing win at Parliament Hill a couple of weeks back. Expect some strong challenges from Scottish athletes Tom Russell and Ali Hay, fresh from their tussle at the recent Scottish XC. Nick McCormick has also been flying on the boards this year and the fast Nottingham course should see him in contention (HAVING JUST SEEN NICK RUNNING IN TURIN, WE DOUBT HE WILL BE THERE, EVEN THOUGH HIS NAME IS DOWN! – Ed). National runner-up Steve Vernon, 3rd placer Andy Vernon, 4th placer Phil Wicks will be up there once again, and expect Mike Skinner to be rounding into to even better form come Saturday.
McCormick - basic speed is good at the moment
The women’s race will be very competitive. It could well be a re-run of the National XC, with two notable additions. Steph Twell finally graduates to the senior ranks and has probably been the outstanding British athlete on the country this winter. She has carried all before her, and has taken on the East African’s, finishing fourth at the Great North Cross. She has also made history by winning the European XC champs for three years running as a junior – so anything but a win here will be a shock. Freya Murray has been improving all season and will certainly be looking to knock Steph off her throne. Following her massive win at Callendar Park Murray’s confidence on the country will be riding high, and it will take some great running from Twell to hold her off. Hatti Dean will also be in the mix, for sure, after her great win at the National, but the two youngsters could well have too much for the Hallamshire athlete.
Twell aiming to leave her mark
The junior races will be highly competitive as ever, with not only World Cross places up for grabs but also British XC titles too. All of the usual suspects will be on show in the men’s U20 race, and with David Forrester still seemingly absent from the starting line-up our money will be on national victor Nick Goolab, run close by the North East’s Ross Murray.
After hanging onto to Steph Twell for the most-part of the National XC Greater Manchester’s Lauren Howarth will start as favourite in the U20 women.
Howarth - one of the UK's crop of young endurance talent
So, it looks all set for some great racing and the prize of a coveted place in the UK team for the World Cross Country might just ensure that it will be some of the best racing you will see this season…
