01 October 2008
Cross Country has traditionally served as the building blocks for many of our successful 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 GB & NI Teams this winter, as well as ensuring that the winter championship opportunities propel new performers through to the top level, enabling UK Athletics to continue to build on the success at last seasons European Cross and become a much stronger force at the World Cross.
European Cross Country Championships
UK Athletics main focus before the New Year will be the European Cross Country Championships in Belgium on the 14th December 2008. Following the past success of the GB & NI Team performances at these championships, it is UK Athletics intention to support these championships in 2008 with full junior and senior teams. For the first time in 2006 the U23 age group races were introduced to the championship by the EAA as demonstration events, before officially being recognised as championship events in 2007. Over the past two winter seasons, the GB & NI U23 teams have been hugely successful at the European Cross. Therefore, it is UK Athletics intention to continue to support sending full teams to the U23 age group races in 2008, where the performances and future progression of the U23 athletes into the senior teams will continue to be monitored and reviewed.
Chiba Ekiden Relay
UK Athletics has been invited to send a team to this year’s Chiba Ekiden Relay in Japan on the 24th November 2008. The Ekiden relay will continue in the same mixed race format as last season. It is UK Athletics intention to support this event with its strongest possible team, whilst not detracting from the European Cross. This year, UK Athletics will again incorporate a pre selection element within the European Cross policy, which will give some of our more experienced performers the opportunity to compete in both the Ekiden and the European Cross in 2008.
World Cross Country Championships
The World Cross Country Championships in 2009 will be held in Amman, Jordan on the 28th March 2009. It is UK Athletics intention to continue to support the World Cross with teams of the appropriate standard. Building on the success of our GB & NI Team performances at the European Cross, the next step for our endurance athletes as they progress up the international competition pathway is for them to experience world class opposition and begin to make an impact at the World Cross.
This years World Cross Country Championships will see the men’s long course race revert down to six athletes to run from nine. The senior women’s long course race and both junior races will continue with six athletes to run.
Due to the warmer climatic conditions expected in Jordan next March, it is UK Athletics intention to have a preparation camp in Cyprus prior to these championships. A warm weather preparation camp was used to good affect prior to Mombasa. Therefore, to ensure that our athletes are fully prepared for the expected warmer conditions in Jordan, UKA has taken the decision to hold the training camp so that athletes are adequately acclimatised for the World Cross. Those athletes selected for the World Cross will be expected to attend the camp in Cyprus, or agree with UKA an alternative preparation plan.
Spencer Barden
Performance Programme Senior Coordinator
For further information please download the preparation report and selection policies below
