10 January 2009

Steph Twell continued her successful transition to senior athlete at Edinburgh on Saturday, with the top British Performance at a blustery Great Edinburgh Cross County.

Twell, (Aldershot, Farnham & District) just a week on from her impressive victory at the McCain UK Cross Challenge at Antrim, took further international scalps at Holyrood Park in finishing fourth in the senior women’s race against world class opposition.

Following her now trademark conservative start, Twell climbed up through the field from outside the top dozen to eventually take a key role in the breakaway group of five athletes following the front running of Portugal’s Jessica Augusto.

But just after half way, Kenya’s Linet Masai broke away to a compelling victory, leaving Twell, Mestewat Tufa and Viola Kibiwott to compete for the minor placings.

In the two men’s races, Andy Baddeley (Harrow) performed strongly to hold off the challenge of both Steve Vernon and Mike Skinner, taking the short course 4km title for the second year in a row. Fellow Olympic 1500 representative Tom Lancashire finished strongly in third place.

In the long course race, Ethiopian Abebe Dinkesa sprinted away to take first, in a strong international field.