23rd November 2015

Weekend Round Up

23 November 2015

NCAA Division 1 – Louisville, Kentucky, USA – 21st November 2015

Alice Wright (coach: David Walker) impressively finished fifth in the women’s race at the annual NCAA Cross Country Championships. She led a quartet of Brits representing New Mexico University, with 2014 European U23 champion Rhona Auckland (Joyce Hogg) closely behind in 13th.  Calli Thackery (Joe Franklin) continued her recent improvements to place 15th with Moly Renfer (Richard Holt) earning a place inside the top 25 in 24th.

13 Britons took part in the senior women’s race with Rhianwedd Price (Houston Franks), who finished 4th in the 1500m at the European U23 Championship this summer, 50th and Elizabeth Bird (George Harrison) 58th. Steeplechaser Iona Lake (Pauline Ash) was 92nd with Charlotte Turner and Sarah Astin (Mick Woods) 118th and 123rd respectively.

Verity Ockenden (Tony Houchin) was next back in 128th with Stacie Taylor (144th), Ffion Price (Darrell Maynard) (188th) and Abbie Hetherington (John Clementson) (218th) also taking on the Kentucky course.

Marc Scott (Steve Gulley) continued his strong cross country season with a top ten finish in Louisville. After winning four cross country races heading into the NCAAs, the Tulsa University athlete went into the race full of confidence and earned a superb 10th place finish. Luke Traynor (Dudley Walker) was making his debut at the championships and was not fazed by the occasion, earning a 34th place finish.

2012 European junior cross country bronze medallist Kieran Clements (Ricardo Santos) was just outside the top 50 in 58th with Michael Vennard (Andrew Carter) 93rd. Liam Dee (Santos) was 110th whilst Rhys Park (Corey Ihmels) and Zak Seddon were 120th and 141st respectively.

Another NCAA debutant Neil Gourley (Ben Thomas) was 157th with Jack Goodwin (Simon Goodwin) placing in 162nd. Preston’s Jamaine Coleman (Andy Bibbey) and European Junior 5000m champion Alex George (Paul de-Camps) were 173rd and 176th respectively.

https://xc.tfrrs.org/results/xc/9347.html

 

Cross International Hyères Méditerranée – France – 22nd November 2015

Steph Twell (Woods) warmed-up for this weekend European cross country trials at the Liverpool Cross Challenge with victory of the course for the European event in three weeks times. The AFD athlete was part of the gold medal winning senior women’s team in 2014 and looked in fine form on the French course this weekend.

The Scot ran out winner in a time of 13:18 ahead of Italy’s Federica Del Buono and Kenya’s Susan Kipsang Jeptoo.

Twell said afterwards: “It was fantastic – I felt like I pushed it hard in the race. It was an inspiration ahead of qualification (at the European cross country trials) next weekend.

“I would love to come back for the Euros in three weeks’ time and get close to the medal, if not win a medal.”


NAIA Championships – Charlotte, NC – USA – 21 November 2015

Liverpool’s David Mountford (David Evans) was the highest placed Briton at the NAIA championships, finishing 5th in the senior men’s race. Next home was John Paul Williamson (Malcolm McCausland) in 26th with Sam Atkin (Rob Lewis) narrowly behind in 31st.

Hannah Seagrave (Chris Layne) ran a fine race to complete the senior women’s race in 7th position. Northern Irish athlete Sara Moore (Ciaran Collins) was 22nd.

https://xc.tfrrs.org/results/xc/9350.html