10 October 2008

In their first international outing of the year Michelle Ross-Cope (City of Stoke) and Wendy Nicholls (Cirencester AC) certainly picked a great destination to don a GB vest.

The pair, who currently lie in sixth and seventh place respectively in the McCain Power of Ten rankings for the Half Marathon, will represent the Norwich Union GB& NI Team at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil which is scheduled to take place on Sunday 12 October.

Ross-Cope won the Wilmslow Half Marathon in March in a time of 72.50, just seven seconds shy of her PB, whilst Nicholls secured her selection by finishing second at Bath in 73.33 – also in March. Nicholls will hope to improve on her 49^th positon in last year’s championships, and Ross Cope will be aiming to climb higher than her 40^th place, in what is set to be a tough race in the Samba City.

Kenyan teams have been the dominant force in global road running championships over recent years so the 51 nations entered in the race will hope to prevent another brace of team titles being landed by the east African nation.

Originally named in the team was Liz Yelling (Bedford & County) who withdrew due to a fractured rib.

Full results will be available on www.ukathletics.net on Sunday 12^th October