8 January 2008

December was another action packed month for European Athletics with the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Toro being the highlight of the month.

Along with this, a number of other top class Cross Country events took place as well as a number of traditional road races, especially towards the end of the month.

Following this, European Athletics have announced that athletes from 11 countries have been nominated for the European Athlete of the Month Award for December.

At the end of each month, a panel of experts produce a shortlist of the outstanding athletes and performances achieved by European Athletes during that month which is emailed to the European Athletics media and thousands of fans who have already signed up to receive news from European Athletics.

The shortlist for December includes two British athletes – Stephanie Twell, who defended her Junior title at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Toro, and Mara Yamauchi, who finished second in the Okayama Half Marathon in Japan in 1:09.28.

European Athletics will name a male and female winner each month and feature the athlete on the European Athletics website. Selections are based on votes by the public, the media and a panel of European Athletics experts with each counting for 33.3% of the final vote.

For more details or to vote go to European Athletics