Cross Country has traditionally formed the building blocks for many of our top endurance athletes and been an integral part of their build up towards a successful summer track season. UK Athletics will again look towards its leading endurance performers to strengthen the NU GB & NI Teams this winter and build on the successes at last seasons European and World Cross Country Championships as well as bringing through some new performers to the top level.
UK Athletics main focus before Christmas will be the European Cross Country Championships in Spain on 9th December 2007. Following the past success of the NU GB & NI Team performances at these championships, it is UK Athletics intention to support these championships in 2007 with full junior and senior teams. For the first time last year the Europeans incorporated U23 races as demonstration events. Following last years U23 races the European Athletics Association reviewed the impact the U23 races had on the championships . and have decided to include the U23 races as official championships races in 2007. UK Athletics have also reviewed the competition to see how it impacted on the U23 age group across the whole of last winter and have taken the decision to support U23 Championship races in 2007 with full teams. UK Athletics will continue to review the impact of this competition on senior athlete development at the end of this Cross Country season.
UK Athletics has been invited to send a team to this year’s Chiba Ekiden Relay. The format of this year’s Ekiden has changed to a mixed team race. It is UK Athletics intention to support this event with its strongest possible team, while not detracting from the European Cross. As last year UKA will again incorporate a pre selection element within the selection policy for the European Cross for both senior and junior athletes, which will give some of our more experienced performers the opportunity to compete in both the Ekiden and the European Cross in 2007.
The World Cross Country Championships for 2008 will continue as a one day programme with Edinburgh, Scotland hosting the event. The 2007 World Cross in Mombasa saw some encouraging NU GB & NI Team performances in what were very testing conditions. With this in mind and the added advantage of a major cross championship on home soil it is UK Athletics intention to support the 2008 championships with full teams.
For more information contact: Spencer Barden, Senior Co-ordinator - Endurance
08709986815
