The British Athletics Cross Challenge heads to London at the International Cross Country fixture on Saturday, 20 January, with Parliament Hill Fields hosting the fourth fixture of the Challenge.
As well as hosting the fourth leg of the British Athletics Cross Challenge series, the event will also act as a Trial for the two senior races at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, taking place in March with the first athlete across the line in the senior women’s and men’s races earning automatic selection.
The senior women’s race will see a stellar field take on the short lap circuit around the famous London venue. European cross country bronze medallist Abbie Donnelly (coach: Rob Lewis, club: Lincoln Wellington) is a late entrant to the field after running 31:55 over 10km in Valencia last weekend.
She will face a strong field, including fellow European cross-team medallists Amelia Quirk (Mick Woods, Bracknell) and Niamh Bridson Hubbard (Philip O’Dell, Blackheath & Bromley). Meanwhile, 1-2 from the Renfrew Cross Challenge last weekend, Kirsty Walker (Neil Walker, Edinburgh) and Nancy Scott (Philip O’Dell, Edinburgh), will be representing Scotland in the English capital city.
With several contenders for the top prize, other athletes to keep an eye on include Sarah Astin (Goeff Watkin, Belgrave), Jessica Gibbon (Reading) and Alice Goodall (Mark Pollard, Edinburgh), and many more.
European cross 4th placer Hugo Milner will be the favorite for the senior men’s race. The Derby athlete came agonisingly close to the medals in Brussels last month, and he will be chasing another solid performance here which also follows on from his Cross Challenge win in Liverpool last November.
Mahamed Mahamed (Idris Hamud, Southampton), a multiple international for GB & NI at cross-country championships over the last few years, will be another strong contender in London. He will be racing for the first time since clocking 2:08:40 at the Valencia Marathon last December.
Alfie Manthorpe (John Wood, Sheffield & Dearne), who was part of the senior men’s squad at the Europeans in Belgium, represents the England team on Saturday alongside fellow GB & NI international James Kingston (Mark Hookway, Tonbridge). Meanwhile, Renfrew winner Jamie Crowe (Derek Easton, Central) makes the journey south alongside second place from the Scottish fixture, Scott Stirling (John Pentecost, Falkirk).
In addition, there are qualification spots up for grabs for eligible BUCS…
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