15 January 2008

The Norwich Union Great Britain and Northern Ireland junior squad for the Lisbon International cross country on Sunday 27 January will include five of the teenagers who earned team gold medals at last month’s SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Toro, Spain.

The Junior Men’s quartet comprises David Forrester (St Helens Sutton AC), who finished fourth in Toro, plus two of his Euro Cross team mates, Mitchell Goose (City of Norwich AC) and Ross Murray (Gateshead Harriers). The team will be completed by Simon Horsfield (East Cheshire and Tameside AC), a 1500m finalist at last summer’s World Youths’ Championships. The team will be managed by coach Steve Benson.

In the Junior Women’s squad are Joanne Harvey (Exeter Harriers) and Laura Park (Ellenborough AC) from the team that won the Junior Women’s gold medals in Toro plus two who raced at last winter’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, Kenya, Stevie Stockton (Vale Royal AC) and Jessica Coulson (Stockport Harriers), who finished third in Lisbon last year. They will be managed by former international athlete Sue Lamb.

Announcing the selections, UK Athletics Senior Co-ordinator for Endurance Spencer Barden said: “The Lisbon International has traditionally been a key part of our preparation for World Cross Country Championships. Charlotte Purdue led a GB 1-2-3-4 in the Junior Women’s race there last year, went on to finish 15th in the Worlds – and is now pre-selected for this winter’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships in March. There could hardly be better inspiration for the eight selected for Lisbon this time.”