13th December 2017

MUIR AMONG THOSE SELECTED FOR THE BRITISH TEAM AT GREAT EDINBURGH XCOUNTRY

Laura Muir (coach: Andy Young) and newly crowned European cross country U20 champion Harriet Knowles-Jones (Paul Roden) headline the full British Athletics team of 34 for the Great Edinburgh XCountry at Holyrood Park on Saturday 13 January 2018.

After leading the team to victory in the senior mixed relay in Edinburgh at the start of 2017, Laura Muir once again stars for the British quartet. She makes her fourth successive appearance in the 4x1km relay and is yet to be beaten in the event. The two-time world finalist over 1500m will have her eyes on making it a famous fourth victory at the 2018 edition.

Alongside Muir, Alex Bell (Andrew Henderson) – one of nine British senior debutants in the team – is joined by Adam Clarke (Geoff Watkin) and Tom Marshall (James Thie); the latter anchored the British team to the first ever European cross country championships gold at the weekend.

After a superb gold medal last Sunday, Harriet Knowles-Jones joins the senior team after her stand out performance in Samorin last weekend. She will be joined by senior women’s gold medallists at those championships, Emelia Gorecka (Chris Thompson) and Elle Vernon (David Turnbull). Gorecka famously won the senior race in tough conditions in 2015, so has history of starring in the first major meeting of the season.

Also included in the strong senior women’s squad is European U23 cross bronze medallist Jess Judd (Mick Judd), who continues to impress during this cross country season.

Sixth place in the senior men’s race in Slovakia was the best result of Ben Connor’s (Steve Vernon) career to date, and he will headline the senior men’s team. After withdrawing from the race on Sunday, Dewi Griffiths (Kevin Evans) will be raring to go across the mud in the Scottish capital next month.

Four European cross team gold medallists star in the U20 women’s race – Phoebe Barker (Richard Owen), Niamh Brown (Mick Woods), Cari Hughes (Andrew Walling) and Khahisa Mhlanga (Mick Judd).

The highest placed finisher in the U20 men’s race on Sunday, Matthew Willis (self-coached), leads the U20 men’s entries for the British team.

The Simplyhealth Great Edinburgh XCountry is a team competition pitting the British Athletics team against Europe and the USA, also including an exciting international mixed relay. The event takes place in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park and is free to spectate. It will be televised live on BBC One from 13:15 – 15:15 on Saturday 13 January 2018.

 

Senior Women:

Katie Bingle (Mick Woods, Aldershot Farnham & District)

Philippa Bowden (Mick Woods, Aldershot Farnham & District)

Emelia Gorecka (Chris Thompson, Aldershot Farnham & District)

Amy Griffiths (Rob Denmark, Aldershot Farnham & District)

Jess Judd (Mick Judd, Chelmsford)

Harriet Knowles-Jones (Paul Roden, Warrington)

Phoebe Law (Mick Woods, Kingston & Poly)

Mhairi MacLennan (John Lees, Inverness)

Elle Vernon (David Turnbull, Stockport)

 

Senior Men:

Ben Connor (Steve Vernon, Stockport)

Patrick Dever (Andy Bibby, Preston)

Nick Goolab (Craig Winrow, Belgrave)

Dewi Griffiths (Kevin Evans, Swansea)

Mahamed Mahamed (Peter Haynes, Southampton)

Chris Olley (Mark Hookway, Tonbridge)

Sam Stabler (Rob Denmark, Wreake & Sour Valley)

Alex Teuten (Roderick Lock, Southampton)

Andy Vernon (Nic Bideau, Aldershot Farnham & District)

 

Senior Mixed Relay:

Alex Bell (Andrew Henderson, Pudsey & Bramley)

Adam Clarke (Geoff Watkin, Aldershot Farnham & District)

Tom Marshall (James Thie, Cardiff AC)

Laura Muir (Andy Young, Dundee Hawkhill)

 

U20 Women:

Phoebe Barker (Richard Owen, Tonbridge)

Niamh Brown (Mick Woods, Aldershot Farnham & District)

Cari Hughes (Andrew Walling, Swansea)

Khahisa Mhlanga (Mick Judd, Chelmsford)

Eloise Walker (John Lees, Edinburgh)

Erin Wallace (Dudley Walker, Giffnock North)

 

U20 Men:

Jake Heyward (James Thie, Cardiff)

Ricky Lutakome (Nick Hancock, Sutton & District)

Tom Mortimer (Christopher Brown, Stroud)

Hugh Sadler (David Bedwell, Bristol & West)

Lachlan Wellington (Vince Stamp, City of Portsmouth)

Matthew Willis (Self-coached, Wrexham)