European Cross Country Championships, Velenje, Dec 11

[nevetsllim]

There might not be any huge names competing but it's still an event I always really look forward to.

Lebid is going for title No.10 in the men's race. Lamdassem has been in better form but Lebid always seems to gear his preparation for this event.

Men's entries
http://www.european-athletics.org/event ... 1-men.html

Women's entries
http://www.european-athletics.org/event ... women.html

All six races will be streamed from the European Athletics website (from 9.45am GMT, I think) too.

[IanS_Liv]

Re: European Cross Country Championships, Velenje, Dec 11

I'm looking forward to this. It's always a fun meeting. I was going to ask when it started streaming, but you answered that for me already!

[nevetsllim]

Re: European Cross Country Championships, Velenje, Dec 11

Junior race (4km)

1. Emelia Gorecka 13:13
2. Ioana Doaga 13:14
3. Amela Terzic 13:22

9. Gesa-Felicitas Krause 13:42

Form from the European Junior Champs didn't really materialise in this race. Aydemir, who outsprinted Gorecka for the Euro junior 5000m title only finished eighth while Krause (9:32 steeplechaser and European junior record-holder) was only ninth. Quite surprised Doaga took silver as she's more of a 800/1500m runner but the Romanians have a good record in the junior race.

Junior race (6km)

1. Ilgizar Safiulin 17:49
2. Richard Goodman 17:51
3. Vladimir Nikitin 17:51

Safiulin won the European junior steeplechase title and he was probably the favourite. Really good run from Goodman as he was beaten by Jonny Hay at the trials who was eighth here but Goodman ran well in this race in 2009 as a 16-year-old.

[nevetsllim]

Re: European Cross Country Championships, Velenje, Dec 11

Women's U23 race
1. Emma Pallant 19:57
2. Naomi Taschimowitz 20:02
3. Corinna Harrer 20:03

4. Stephanie Twell 20:03

[nevetsllim]

Re: European Cross Country Championships, Velenje, Dec 11

Men's U23
1. Florian Carvalho 23:44
2. James Wilkinson 23:47
3. Sondre Nordstad Moen 23:48

Carvalho adds the U23 race to his junior title from a few yrs ago. He could be a factor at the 2012 Olympics as he ran 3:33 for 1500m this summer and has pretty good 800m speed too, as well as XC strength.

[nevetsllim]

Re: European Cross Country Championships, Velenje, Dec 11

Women's senior race
1. Fionnuala Britton 25:55
2. Dulce Felix 26:02
3. Gemma Steel 26:04
4. Nadia Ejjafini 26:13

[72]

Re: European Cross Country Championships, Velenje, Dec 11

Twells performanmce in 4th is much better than she expected at the start of her racing again.

[nevetsllim]

Re: European Cross Country Championships, Velenje, Dec 11

Men's senior race
1. Atelaw Bekele 29:15
2. Ayad Lamdassem 29:20
3. Jose Rocha 29:21

DNF Lebid

[72]

Re: European Cross Country Championships, Velenje, Dec 11

Noted that some of the references about BBC coverage of the Xcountry, mentioned on AW forum, seemed to overlook that the whole racing meet was shown on streaming EAA site with a nice calm coverage.

[dunedine]

Re: European Cross Country Championships, Velenje, Dec 11

I was personally very impressed by Emma Pallant's display as she really destroyed the field round the last lap nonchallantly, her best I've seen for a long while. Hopefully, that will signal that she is turning the corner and on track to fulfil her potential.

A little sad that Steph Twell was pipped out of bronze in the last several strides after a gritty run all the way but that was still another big step back to her best.

The find of the day was Naomi Taschimowitz who has been improving by leaps and bounds over the last few months to grab silver in the U23 women today. Very confident run and judgement as she made the right moves at the right times. A name to watch out for and maybe in the short run.

Emelia Gorecka very much introduced us to a more versatile runner in her as she pulled victory in a very unfamiliar manner for her, coming through from behind that is. I was very confident she was going to win but didn't expect her to do it this way.

Excellent runs from Richard Goodman (U20) and James 'Wilco' (U23) for two silvers as well as Gemma Steel for bronze in the senior women.

On the other hand, Andy Vernon took too long to make his move and was far too late when he made it while Hattie Dean looked mystifyingly out of sorts today.

[Jon]

Re: European Cross Country Championships, Velenje, Dec 11

Want to hear an incredible stat? If Aldershot, Farnham & District (the club that produced Steph Twell, Charlotte Purdue, Andy Vernon, Emelia Gorecka, etc) had been entered as a separate nation at the past seven editions of the European Cross-Country Champs, this is what the overall combined medals table would look like (based on individual medals only):
https://p.twimg.com/AgstOS_CAAEouxa.jpg
:shock: