It was a BIG weekend of cross country action in the UK and abroad. Domestically it was our trial race in Liverpool for places at the upcoming European Cross Country Championships in a couple of weeks. There was plenty of action in Europe with gold tour events and many national championships. In the US it was the highly anticipated NCAA Championships. Read on for race results!
International
There is always a big build up to the NCAA Cross Country Championships in the US collegiate system building from smaller, local races to the regional and area levels before the national champs. The Division 1 event took place in Madison, Wisconsin and saw BYU domination with the school winning both the men’s and women’s team titles. Doris Lemngole (Alabama) broke away to win the women’s race ahead of Pamela Kosgei (New Mexico) and Hilda Olemomoi (Florida). Graham Banks (Harvard) retained his title with a decisive move in the final kilometre as he beat Habtom Samuel (New Mexico) and Dylan Schubert (Furman).
Also taking place in the US was the Sound Running Cross Champs in Austin, Texas which is a World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold event. The men’s race was won by Edwin Kurgat (Kenya) ahead of Athanas Kioko (Kenya) and Eduard Herrera (Mexico). Emily Venters (USA) won the women’s race with Mercy Chelangat (Kenya) and Katie Izzo (USA) taking the minor places.
Back in Europe there were more Gold Tour events including the Festival du Cross-Country Carhaix-Plouguer in France. Mathew Kipkoech Kipruto (Kenya) held off Robert Kiprop Koech (Kenya) and Harbert Kibet (Uganda) to win. Belinda Chemutai (Uganda) finished first in the women’s race ahead of Maurine Jepkoech Chebor (Kenya) and Asmarech Anley (Ethiopia).
There was also a race in Spain at the Cross Internacional de la Constitucion Alcobendas. The women’s race saw great European representation with Nadia Battocletti (Italy) winning ahead of Konstanze Klosterhafen (Germany) and Claudia Arce (Spain). Rodrigue Kwizera (Burundi) won the men’s race with Martin Kiprotich (Uganda) and Samuel Cherop (Uganda) finishing second and third.
There was a Silver level World Athletics Cross Country Tour event in Tilburg, Holland at the International Warandecross. Niels Laros (Netherlands) bounced back from the Cardiff Cross Challenge a few weeks ago to win the men’s race ahead of Abdirahman Mohamed (Netherlands) and Nik Lemmink (Netherlands). The women’s race was won by Sarah Lahti (Sweden) with Ineke van Koldam (Netherlands) finishing second and Roxane Cleppe (Belgium) taking third.
On the roads there was marathon action in Italy at the Firenze Marathon. Dorine Jerop Murkomen (Kenya) ran 2:27:00 to win the women’s race ahead of Lucy Chephoghon Chelele (Kenya) in 2:27:17 and Hellen Chepkorir (Kenya) in 2:27:58. The men’s race was won by Samuel Kiplimo Naibei (Kenya) in 2:12:50 with Jean Marie Bukuru (Burundi) second in 2:16:21 and Hillary Biwott Chemweno (Kenya) third in 2:16:21.
In France the Marathon de la Rochelle was won by Charles Muneria (Kenya) in 2:11:53. Kelvin Kimutai (Kenya) was second in 2:13:43 and Abdu Assen (Ethiopia) was third in 2:15:16. The women’s race was won by Emily Chebet Kipchumba (Kenya) in 2:27:55 as Yeneabeba Ejigu (Ethiopia) finished second in 2:33:44 and Shamilah Kipsorir (Kenya) was third in 2:34:22.
The Philadelphia Marathon was won by William Loevner (USA) in 2:16:12 as Mulgeta Birhanu Feyissa (Ethiopia) finished second in 2:16:38 and Rahal Bouchfar (Morocco) third in 2:16:55. Katie Florio (USA) was the first lady home in 2:32:42 ahead of Aberu Mekuria Zennebe (Ethiopia) and Elizabeth Chikotas (USA) in 2:33:26 and 2:35:28.
Predictably there were quick results at the Iten International Marathon in Kenya especially considering this is at altitude. Valary Jemeli Aiyabei (Kenya) won in 2:28:57 ahead of Vivian Jerotich (Kenya) in 2:32:04 and Sheila Kemei (Kenya) in 2:37:28. Justus Kiprotich (Kenya) won the men’s race in 2:14:04 followed home by Benjamin Kigen (Kenya) in 2:14:29 and Collins Cheboi (Kenya) in 2:14:39.
The Milano21 Half Marathon was won by Xavier Chevrier (Italy) in 1:03:21 ahead of Luke Micallef (Malta) in 1:06:02 and Alberto Vender (Italy) in 1:06:04. Giovanna Epis (Italy) won the women’s race in 1:12:48 with Elisa Melilli (Spain) second in 1:16:59 and Sarah Zerbini (Italy) third in 1:17:22.
National
It was the second instalment in the British Cross Challenge series at Sefton Park in Liverpool which was also the trial race for selection for the European Cross Country Championships in Antalya in December. It is likely, but not definite, that the top 6 will be selected for the Europeans.
There was a surprise victory in the men’s race for Tomer Tarragano (Brighton & Hove) as he ran away from Hugo Milner (Derby), Scott Beatie (Morpeth), Ellis Cross (Aldershot, Farnham & District), Rory Leonard (Morpeth) and Calum Johnson (Gateshead). The women’s race played out more to script with Kate Axford (Belgrave) leading home Cari Hughes (Cardiff), Poppy Tank (City of Plymouth), Abbie Donnelly (Lincoln Wellington), Izzy Fry (Newbury) and Jessica Gibbon (Reading AC).
The men’s U23 race was won by David Stone (Shaftesbury Barnet) as he beat pre-race Will Barnicoat (Aldershot, Farnham & District) in second followed by Peter Molloy (Central AC), Brett Rushman (Herts Phoenix), Dafydd Jones (Swansea) and Rowan Miell-Ingram (Radley). Megan Gadsby (City of Norwich) won the women’s race as Kate Willis (City of Norwich), Mia Waldmann (Reading AC), Poppy Craig-McFeely (Herne Hill), India Pentland (Darlington) and Emily Parker (Poole AC) made up the top six.
Pre-race favourite Innes Fitzgerald (Exeter) won the women’s U20 race followed home by Jess Bailey (Leven Valley), Lizzie Wellsted (Colchester Harriers), Zoe Gilbody (Telford AC), Isobelle Jones (Wolverhampton & Bilston) and Ellarose Whitworth (Lincoln Wellington). Henry Dover (Shaftesbury Barnet) won the men’s race ahead of William Rabjohns (Poole AC), Oliver Conway (Radley), Miles Waterworth (Brighton Phoenix), Quinn Miell-Ingram (Radley) and Noah Campion (Bedford & County).
There was also a short course race (1.5km) to select the team for the mixed relay. Joshua Lay (Rugby & Northampton) and Maddie Deadman (Basingstoke & Mid Hants) won with Tyler Bilyard (Great Yarmouth) and Holly Dixon (Cambridge Harriers) in second.
Disappointingly quite a few races around the country were cancelled due to the storms and poor weather.
Many races did go ahead though and there were multiple Run Through events including the Running GP at Oulton Park including a marathon, half marathon, 10k, 5k, 16 mile and 20 mile. The Draycote Water Running Festival included a half marathon, 10k and 5k. And the Battersea Park Running Festival featured a half marathon and marathon. Special shout out to Great Western Runner, Kelly Dicks, for winning the women’s race in 3:11:46!
The Wilmslow Festive 10k was won by Richard Allen (Leeds City AC) in 29:40 ahead of Nigel Martin (Sale Harriers Manchester) in 30:01 and Callum Davidson (Salford Harriers AC) in 30:03. Kate Ward (Vale Royal AC) won the women’s race in 33:55 ahead of Sarah Dufour-Jackson (Vale Royal AC) in 34:05 and Kirsty Longley (Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers AC) in 34:43.
Local
The Severn Bridge Five Night Race took place on Thursday. It is a 5 mile run along the Severn Bridge starting and ending in a tunnel. Adam Whittaker (Cardiff Runners) and Antoinette Rose (Lliswerry Runners) won in 27:35 and 30:59.
On Sunday lots of runners took on the infamous Brent Knoll. The 6 mile steep out and back Brent Knoll trail race near Burnham-on-Sea was won by Adam Fieldhouse (Unattached) and Caroline McAleese (Bristol & West AC).
We are still waiting on results for the Chepstow 365 which is a 6 mile off road race in the Wye Valley. Disappointingly, the Masters 5000 in Weston-Super-Mare, Moonlit Meadow Run in Taunton, and AVR Wiltshire Half Marathon in Edington were all cancelled/postponed.