Tickner and Damen book World Cross places
Frank Tickner wins the World Cross trials 2013
Frank Tickner, Louise Damen, Emelia Gorecka and Jonathan Davies were amongst those making sure of their World Cross Country Championships berth on Saturday, at a muddy Cofton Park in Birmingham…
The final round of the McCain Cross Challenge included the trial race for the Champs in Poland on the 24th of March, and also once again coincided with the Inter Counties XC too, meaning that competition was high as pretty much all of the UK’s elite XC runners descended on Birmingham.
Tickner was pretty majestic in his running, as he took command of the race in the last third of the 12km, after leading (along with second place man Steve Vernon) for much of the race. It was the other Vernon, Andy, who looked most likely to catch Tickner with around 3km to race after powering his way through the field having started way back. However, lacking a little in race fitness the Aldershot runner settled for third behind Steve Vernon.
In the women’s race there was to be no repeat of the National two weeks ago, when Loiuse Damen raced away to take the English crown by almost a minute. On Saturday it wasnt until the last kilometre that the winner looked certain as Damen managed to get away from Gt. Manchester’s Elle Baker.
Gemma Steel continued her comeback to form with a solid 3rd place, also booking her ticket to Bydgoszcz.
In the junior (U20) races there was no surprise in the women’s race, as multiple junior champion Emelia Gorecka once again trounced the opposition as she looks to improve on her 15th place from two years ago at the World Cross.
In the U20 men’s event there was a similar story for Jonathan Davies, as the Berkshire runner took the trial, the Inter Countoes crown and the overall win in the McCain series.
Full report via British Athletics is online here, with Power of 10 results here.
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