Euro XC Champs

[Jaack]

No one ever seems to be interested in these champs, but they are so competetive and always a thrill. The startlists are n the homepage.

I'm particularly keen to see Martin Fagan and Mary Cullen of Ireland challenge for the senior titles.Junior girls race looks set to be a right hum dinger too. Should be fun

[joeltetreault]

Re: Euro XC Champs

Anyone know if Kuijiken going to come back for the Euro XC's?

[Powell]

Re: Euro XC Champs

No one ever seems to be interested in these champs, but they are so competetive and always a thrill. The startlists are n the homepage.

I see a few interesting entries. I don't think I've ever seen Gulnara Samitova do a XC race before. And it's nice to see former champion Annemari Sandell (Euro senior champ at the age of 18!) make a comeback. And Fernanda Ribeiro still keeps on going at 39. But if I had to pick the favorite, I'd have to go with Hilda Kibet.

[nevetsllim]

Ribeiro's just a reserve for the Portuguese team - I'm still annoyed that she wasn't picked for Beijing - she ran the B standard clocking 32:07 at the Portuguese champs but wasn't selected, even though Rui Pedro Silva was selected with the B standard - it would have been her sixth Olympics, which would have been quite an achievement.

I always prefer the European Cross to the World Cross - my predictions would be;

Men's race
1. Bezabeh, 2. Lebid, 3. Farah
Women's race
1. Kibet 2. Augusto 3. Galkina (but I am wary about how the big Russians tend to underperform e.g. Abitova in 2006.

Interesting to see how Beyrak goes in the U23 race - he's run 27:29 for 10000m and a clean sweep in the women's junior race looks a possibility (but Gorbunova might get in the way).

[gabyandersen]

One of the best race would be U23 .
Amdoumi the french is in great shape
http://www.cross-lesmureaux.com/resulta ... hp?an=2008. ,
Andre Lalli (former eurpean junior champion),Bayrak 27.29 in Beijing (turkish former ethiopian) and the belgian Bekele (former ethiopian ,too)
http://www.dehardloopkrant.com/artikel. ... 0Roeselare


Alemayehu came to Spain in 2004 ,without papers,without family ,whitout money ,he slept in the street in a park .he started to run road races and he earnt a bit of money ,He spent one year running with a stress fracture so in two year with Manuel Pascua(Obikwelu ,Reyes Estevez,Carla sacaramento,Martin Berlanas ...)improve a lot .The birth date was calculate by radiology .
his life (in spanish) 2.30 is the place where he slept
http://www.zappinternet.com/video/GuDqP ... n-la-calle.

Now he is the favorite with Farah and Lebid

In women Kibet is the favorite,he won in nederland a race two weeks ago

video http://www.themazecorporation.net/lv/?p=12671

He was 5th in edinburgh ,he is the cousin of Lornah Kiplagat and sister of Sylvia Kibet (4th in Beijing -5000).
Ines Monteiro is in great shape ,too .
In junior Twell can conquer a hat trick (tree victories in a row).

In this Championship we can find
John Coghlan (Eamonn ´s son) IRL -U23
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/sport ... track.html

Pierrot Pantel (Thierry ´s son)FRA -U23

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=LRosAX5sBwE
father in action in Boston 1992 ,FRA silver teams

Christoph Ryffel (Markus Ryffel ´s son)Swiss Junior team

Sorry i have bad english

[nevetsllim]

In this Championship we can find
John Coghlan (Eamonn ´s son) IRL -U23
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/sport ... track.html

Pierrot Pantel (Thierry ´s son)FRA -U23

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=LRosAX5sBwE
father in action in Boston 1992 ,FRA silver teams

Christoph Ryffel (Markus Ryffel ´s son)Swiss Junior team

That's interesting - there are a lot of familiar names in the junior/U23 races. I wondered if Sara Treacy was related to John Treacy and there was a Cunha in the women's junior race, who I thought might have been related to Aurora Cunha. Didn't spot the John Coghlan/Eamonn Coughlan reference though.

And last year, Katrin Dorre-Heinig's daughter ran in the junior race but isn't on the entry lists this yr.

[gabyandersen]

No relationship with Aurora Cunha .In fact Aurora give a birth very late .She was more tha 30 yrs,She had a lot of problems .She coudn´t get the shape after the birth of her daugther .She said that was a mistake have a daughter so late,it was about 1993 ,so the dauther is 15yrs. ,more or less
Cunha is very popular surname in Portugal .

[doug091463]

what about abeylegesse of turkey? I would think she would win or come in second to lornah kiplagat.

[nevetsllim]

what about abeylegesse of turkey? I would think she would win or come in second to lornah kiplagat.

Neither of them are competing - the Euro Cross doesn't always attract the top names but it's always a competitive race. Abeylegesse has pinpointed the European Indoors next year as a target.

[dl]

Sorry i have bad english

Don't apologize! Perfect English is not necessary to participate on this board. Your thoughts are appreciated!

[dl]

I don't know how fit he is, but I'm pulling for cross specialist Sergey Lebed!!!

He is truly one of the greatest European runners of all time. Perhaps only 2nd to Carlos Lopes?

[tandfman]

I don't know how fit he is, but I'm pulling for cross specialist Sergey Lebed!!!

He is truly one of the greatest European runners of all time. Perhaps only 2nd to Carlos Lopes?

And ahead of Zatopek, Nurmi, and Viren? Really?

[dl]

Sorry, meant to write that Lebed was one of greatest European "cross country runners" of all-time.

[gh]

Re: Euro XC Champs

Anyone know if Kuijiken going to come back for the Euro XC's?

From EAA preview story now on front page:

<<"I'm coming to Europe believing I can win. If you don't believe it then you might as well not try...">>

[nevetsllim]

It won't be easy because I think the reigning and defending champion Ancuta Bobocel starts as the favourite - she's a very good steeplechaser and has a good XC pedigree.