After a couple of quiet weeks of racing over the Christmas period, it picked back up with many races taking place over New Year’s. Unfortunately more poor weather in the UK meant that many races and Parkruns were cancelled last week. But plenty of cross country action took place with most the country championships being run over the weekend. Read on for race results!

International

The San Silvestre Vallencana took place on New Year’s Eve in Madrid. The World Athletics Gold Label Road Race saw a home win over 10km for Marta Garcia Alonso (Spain) in 31:19 ahead of Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya) in 31:32 and Agueda Marques (Spain) in 31:34. Berihu Aregawi (Ethiopia) won the men’s race in 26:32 just outdipping Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda) in 26:33 with Adel Mechaal (Spain) third in 27:40.

Also taking place in Spain on New Year’s Eve was the Cursa dels Nassos in Barcelona. The 5km races were won by Matthew Kipkoech (Kenya) in 13:28 and Beatrice Chebet (Kenya) in 13:54. In second was Pierrik Jocteur Monrozier (France) in 13:28 and Medina eisa Kumanda (Ethiopia) in 14:23. The podium was rounded out by Abdessamad Oukhelfen (Spain) in 13:30 and Belinda Chemutai (Uganda) in 14:36. In the 10km race the men’s podium was Ayad Lamdassm El Mouchine (Spain) in 29:00, Marc Fernandez Personat (Spain) in 29:17 and Alex Garcia Carrillo (Spain) in 29:18. The women’s podium was made up of Marta Galimany Guasch (Spain) in 33:11, Douae Ouboukir (Morocoo) in 33:57 and Julia Font Gomez (Spain) in 34:22.

In Bolzano, Italy, the BOclassic Alto Adige on New Year’s Eve also saw a home win with Nadia Battocletti (Italy) winning the women’s 5km in 15:31 followed by Aleshign Baweke (Ethiopia) in 15:35 and Yasemin Can (Turkey) in 16:05. Haile Bekele Telahun (Ethiopia) won the men’s 10km race in 27:59 with Yemaneberhan Crippa (Italy) second in 28:01 and Charles Rotich (Kenya) third in 28:08.

The Silvesterlauf Peuerbach in Austria also took place on New Year’s Eve. The men’s race was 6.8km and won by Florian Bremm (Germany) in 18:45 just ahead of Reynold Cheruiyot (Kenya) in 18:46 and Niklas Buchholz (Germany) in 19:12. The 5.1km women’s race saw a win for Elena Burkard (Germany) in 15:57 with Axumawit (Ethiopia) second in 15:59 and Domenika Mayer (Germany) third in 16:13.

On Sunday there was another international marathon at the C&D Xiamen International Marathon in China. Ruti Aga (Ethiopia) was first woman home in 2:18:46 followed by Gutemi Shone Imana (Ethiopia) in 2:23:11 and Fikrte Wereta Admasu (Ethiopia) in 2:23:15. Dawit Wolde (Ethiopia) won the men’s race in 2:06:06 with Tebello Ramakongoana (Lesotho) second in 2:06:18 and Asefa Boki Kebebe (Ethiopia) third in 2:06:32.

The World Athletics Cross Country Tour continued in Spain with another gold level event at the Elgoibar Juan Muguerza International. Berihu Aregawi (Ethiopia) doubled back from his win in Madrid on New Year’s Eve to win the men’s race ahead of Rodrigue Kwizera (Burundi) and Samuel Firewu (Ethiopia). The winner of the women’s race, Beatrice Chebet (Kenya) also won a race on New Year’s Eve in Barcelona and was followed home by Melknat Wudu (Ethiopia) and Francine Niyomukunzi (Burundi).

National

Lots of county cross country championships took place on the weekend including the South West Inter County Championships at RNAS Merryfield in Ilton, Somerset. The women’s race was won by Rosie Hamilton-James (Westbury Harriers) followed by junior Freya Bradley (Westbury Harriers) and Millie Porter (Western Tempo). Jack Millar (Bristol & West AC) won the men’s race with Felix McGrath (Bristol & West AC) second and Edward Mitchell (Cornwall AC) third.

Up in Scotland it was the Scottish 3000m Championships which saw very quick times in the men’s race. Jake Wightman (Edinburgh AC) won his first Scottish title for 10 years running 7:44.94 to beat Thomas Keen (Cambridge & Coleridge AC) in 7:45.87 and Thomas Bridger (Cambridge & Coleridge AC) in 7:53.66. The women’s race was won by Sarah Calvert (Livingston AC) in 9:15.67 ahead of Stefanie Tucker (Cambuslang Harriers) in 9:23.57 and Lynn McKenna (Shettleston Harriers).

The Battersea Half Marathon was won by James Connor (Havering AC) in 1:07:30 with David Prosser (Unattached) taking second in 1:10:21 and Thomas Barclay (North Herts Road Runners) third in 1:11:03. Vaida Nakrosiute (Unattached) won the women’s race in 1:19:16 as Catrin Kite (London Heathside) and Sam Pretty (Fairlands Valley Spartans) took the minor places in 1:21:38 and 1:24:45.

Local

The Chard Flyer 10k which is a multi-terrain race over tracks, roads and pavements in the South Somerset countryside took place on New Year’s Day. William Pannell (City of Salisbury AC & RC) won the men’s race followed by Richard Hardy (Axe Valley Runners) and Matthew Clist (Axe Valley Runners). Gill Pearson (Yeovil Town RRC) won the women’s race with Sharon Hutchings (Dorset Doddlers RC) second and Clair French (Yeovil Town RRC) third.